June winced slightly as her still-tender ribs protested the contact. The bruising from her car accident was healing nicely, but the area remained sensitive to pressure.
"Oops, sorry," Lacey said immediately, stepping back with concern. "I forgot about your ribs."
"It's okay," June assured her, adjusting her position to relieve the slight discomfort. "They're really just bruised now. The worst of the pain is behind me."
"How are you feeling overall?" Lacey asked, moving to help June organize files into the cabinet system they were establishing. "I mean, really feeling. Not just the polite answer you give everyone else."
"Honestly, much better," June replied, appreciating Lacey's genuine concern. "I should be asking you the same question. I notice you're not wearing the sling anymore."
"My shoulder is just stiff now," Lacey explained, rotating her arm to demonstrate the improved range of motion. "And my throat is still a little raw from whatever chemical they used in the attack, but overall I'm feeling almost normal again."
"Well, let's both take it easy," June warned gently. "I don't want to be on the receiving end of Lucy's wrath if either of us overexerts ourselves and ends up back in the hospital."
"Same goes for you," Lacey replied with a laugh. "But I have to say, I'm absolutely amazed by all the help Mina managed to gather for this project. Look around us. At this rate, we'll be able to open for basic services within a week and be fully operational within two or three weeks."
"The town needs its veterinarian," June pointed out, glancing at her wristwatch as she spoke. "Speaking of veterinarians, it's nearly noon, and you have Dr. Vernon coming in for her interview soon."
"Right," Lacey said, suddenly looking around the construction zone with obvious dismay. "My office isn't even close to being ready for a professional meeting." She rubbed the back of her neck, a gesture June recognized as a sign of anxiety. "Do you think I should postpone the interview until this place looks a little more established and professional?"
But June understood what was really bothering Lacey. After everything that had happened over the past week, her friend had become understandably wary of strangers. Dr. Vernon hadn't resonated well with Lacey during their brief encounter the day before, and that instinctive caution was making her second-guess what should have been a straightforward hiring decision.
"Lacey," June said gently, setting down the file she had been organizing, "if you'd like, I can sit in on the interview with you. Moral support and an extra set of eyes to help you evaluate her responses."
"Would you really do that?" Lacey asked, looking visibly relieved at the offer.
"Of course," June said without hesitation. "We're a team in this investigation, remember? That includes protecting you from potential threats, even if they come disguised as job applicants."
"Thank you so much," Lacey said with genuine gratitude. "But where will we conduct the interview? This place is nowhere near ready for something that formal."
"How about we meet at Teacups?" June suggested. "We could ask Margo if we can use the small conference room at the back of the bakery. It's private, comfortable, and neutral territory."
"That's a brilliant idea," Lacey agreed immediately. "Would you mind calling Dr. Vernon to suggest the change of venue?"
"Of course. And I'll call Margo to make sure the conference room is available," Lacey added.
June smiled as she watched Lacey walk toward the back of the building to make her phone call. As June pulled out her ownphone to contact Dr. Vernon, the front door of the building opened, and the woman in question stepped inside.
Dr. Judy Vernon was impeccably dressed, as she had been the day before, in a professional yet approachable outfit that conveyed both competence and accessibility. Her appearance was polished without being intimidating, which June supposed was probably an asset when dealing with worried pet owners.
"I'm sorry, I know I'm a bit early," Judy said apologetically as she looked around the construction zone. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
"Oh, not at all," June assured her, slipping her phone back into her pocket. "Actually, I was just about to call you to ask if you'd be willing to meet us at Teacups instead. As you can see, this place is still very much a construction zone at the moment."
"Of course," Judy replied with an understanding smile. "That makes perfect sense. Should I drive over there and wait for you, or would you prefer that we all go together?"
"June, Margo said that the conference room is available and she'll have coffee and pastries ready for us," Lacey's voice called from the back of the building, but her words trailed off when she saw Judy standing in the front office. "Oh, Dr. Vernon. You're early."
"I was just explaining to Dr. Vernon that we're going to move the interview to Teacups," June told Lacey. "Shall we all go together in my car?"
The short drive to Teacups turned out to be an interrogation, with Lacey peppering Dr. Vernon with questions about her personal history and background, leaving June slightly uncomfortable.
"Where were you originally from, or have you always lived in Florida?" Lacey asked from the passenger seat, turning to look at Judy in the back.
"I’m originally from New York," Judy replied politely.
"And when did you move to Florida?" Lacey continued.
"About fifteen years ago. I joined a veterinary practice in Miami right after I completed my residency in wildlife rehabilitation," Judy explained. “My husband…” June glanced in the mirror and saw her eyes darken with pain. “My late husband got a position there with a major bank as well.”
