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Bitsy is such a Slinky.”
    “A what?” Skye hadn’t heard that expression before.
    “A Slinky is someone who’s not really good for anything, but you still can’t help smiling when you see one tumble down the stairs.”
    Skye struggled not to grin. Not that she agreed with the sentiment, but it was darn funny.
    “Anyway, it’s not like I care what Justin does.”
    Skye patted the girl’s arm. “Of course not.”
    “But some of his new friends make me feel like I’m less than nothing.”
    “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission. So don’t give it to them.”
    Frannie’s brow furrowed while she considered what Skye had said. Then she nodded. “Got ya.”
    Skye glanced at her watch. Shoot! They had been gone nearly thirty minutes. “Ready to go back?” She hoped the inspector wasn’t too upset at the delay.
    Frannie nodded again and led the way.
    When Frannie and Skye returned to the lemonade stand, they found Justin, Andrea, and Trixie sipping from paper cups and laughing.
    Justin was saying, “So, uh, then would it be okay for me to follow you around sometime and do a story about being a safety inspector?”
    Skye smiled. Justin was interested in everything and a keen observer of what went on around him. That, paired with the ability to blend into the woodwork and the tenacity of a mule, made him an excellent reporter.
    “Sure. Here’s my card. Give me a call,” Andrea answered, then caught sight of Skye. “But right now we have to get going.”
    Skye hurried over. “I’m so sorry to keep you waiting.” She lowered her voice. “A teen emergency.”
    “I understand. I have one of my own.”
    Before leaving, Skye pulled Trixie aside and asked, “Where were you?”
    “I had to pee. What happened?”
    Skye filled her friend in on her conversation with Frannie.
    Trixie’s response was not reassuring. “Maybe she’s right to be upset. You just can’t trust men.”
    As Skye turned to join Andrea, she wondered if everything was all right between Trixie and her husband, Owen.
    She sighed and continued toward the golf cart, but Justin stopped her. “Hey, Ms. D, do you know who that woman over there is?”
    “Where?” Skye squinted across the road.
    “By Cookie’s Collectibles.”
    Skye scanned the area but didn’t see anyone near where Justin was pointing. “I don’t see anyone.”
    “She’s gone now.”
    “Why did you want to know who she is?”
    “Just curious.” Justin twitched his shoulders as if an insect was buzzing around him, then muttered into his chest. “I’ve seen her around Ms. Caldwell’s before, and she’s not from town.”
    “Probably a friend.” Skye briefly reconsidered her previous thoughts about Justin. Maybe his reporter’s instincts were getting out of hand. Should she say something? Maybe later. Right now she had an inspector to show around.

CHAPTER 5

Wild Kingdom
    S kye and Andrea spent the next couple of hours visiting every public restroom facility and trash can along the yard sale’s five-mile path through Scumble River. The initial inspection was an eye-opener for Skye, who’d had no idea the whole process would be so involved.
    First Andrea walked around the outside of the Port-A-Potty cubicle looking for any leakage. Then she opened the door and sniffed, made a note on her clipboard, and turned to ask, “How often is maintenance scheduled for these?”
    Skye consulted her own clipboard and answered, “The owners will service them at the end of each day, and I’ve hired teenagers to restock them with toilet paper, paper towels, and liquid soap at noon and at four p.m.”
    “I’d like to see how much toilet paper you have on hand.” Skye fought a grin, recalling her uncle’s encounter with the Charmin. Was it really as squeezably soft as the ads claimed? “Sure. It’s at the city hall.”
    “Okay, then I’ll look at it when we go back there.”
    They finished the last trash can a few minutes past twelve and made a quick