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Then, as things were getting too eenta fled to the shop

Kirsty stared at her picture on the screen It’d been al It was strange to see her ier because she looked so different Her hair was short now and she was fully clothed, for a start For soht the world would stop if her photo advertised anything again Instead, it felt kind of cool to have her ied to her

She had to ad She pulled open her desk drawer and took out the little dish with the set of papier-mâché beads and put them back beside her monitor For the first time in three years, she smiled when she looked at them

Lake surveyed his shop with satisfaction It was exactly how he iined it would look—minus the underwear Hopefully, that would arrive on Friday and they’d be up and running by Saturday He’d planned a big launch party Spending yet er with a sound syste, a

lthough he said he felt terrible that he orking against Kirsty To appease his conscience, he told Lake he was charging him ten percent more that his other customers Lake smiled wryly and paid the man The folk in Invertary played by their own rules, and it was one froure them out

With the shop sorted, and Betty back with cakes and her favourite fluorescent orange soft drink, Lake called ain the office He’d put a whiteboard up on the wall behind Betty’s old desk and stood at it like a teacher Betty er than e, while Rainne slu about her screa to be rescued

“Okay, so this is the current situation,” Lake said in his briefing voice

Man, he roup ofInstead he had an evil Hobbit and a scared hippy for a team He cleared his throat

“We’re behind schedule,” he said as he started to write on the board “Opening is Saturday Underwear arrives Friday, so that gives us a day to get the shop sorted So no disappearing” He pointed at Rainne “The sign for the shop arrives on Fridayto be busy that day, people All hands on deck”

“Aye, we know all that, but what about the war? What are we doing about the war?” Betty deh a mouthful of cake

“This is the war,” Lake told her “The whole point is to turn this shop around Make profit Be the last shop standing We don’t do that by eli more underwear”

“That’s boring,” Betty huffed

Lake grinned, folding his arms over his old Muddy Waters T-shirt

“I thought you’d say that,” he told her “This isn’t the only thing we’re doing This is only one ar the Watts model Don’t worry, there will be plenty to keep you busy You won’t be bored”

As Betty gave hirin, and he wondered where her teeth were, Rainne scowled and sank deeper into her seat