Yolks on You Box Set

Chapter 8-1

Chapter 8

Kiko tried not to worry as he climbed the hospital stairs, basket of egg-shaped peanut butter chocolates in his hand. Katie had assured him repeatedly she’d be okay handling the lunchtime crowd alone. She was completely competent, and Kiko had wanted to visit Chad, but he had protested until it became clear she wasn’t going to let him stick around. So he’d taken the small gift basket she’d filled with Chad’s favorite Yolks on You candy and drove to the hospital.

“Told you he’d visit,” said Chad as he entered. Kiko hesitated, knowing the kid’s mother was there and staring at him, but he crossed the room and handed the basket over.

“Thought I’d bring you something,” he said. Chad beamed.

“Thanks! These’re my faves. I’ve been getting so much candy from everyone I’m going to vibrate my way out of here.”

“Chad,” said his mother. Kiko knew that tone of voice; she was uncomfortable with her son joking. He couldn’t imagine how shaken she was by the entire thing.

“Grab a seat, boss,” said Chad. “What’s going on? Any more explosions?”

“Thankfully, no,” said Kiko, hesitantly sitting and glancing at Chad’s mother. She stood at that with a sigh, grabbed her purse, and mumbled something about calling Chad’s father before leaving the room.

“Can’t believe I was actually involved in an explosion. I couldn’t hear anything for so long! Everything was weird, y’know? Thanks for calling the ambulance. Don’t think my parents are happy with the bill. Apparently it’s expensive?”

“You’re safe. They’re happy,” said Kiko, not sure what else to say. He couldn’t help but feel guilty. If Dom was in any way right and someone was targeting him specifically, he’d put Chad in danger.

“So do the cops have theories? When they interviewed me they didn’t tell me anything.”

“They don’t tell anyone anything,” said Kiko, unable to hold back a smile.

“Well, that’s not really fair, is it? I told them everything they wanted to know. I guess you have to be, like, watching the show to see what they’re thinking.”

“I guess,” said Kiko, thinking of Dom off eating deviled eggs and gathering information. Chad might have something worth knowing. “What happened?”

“I survived an attempt on my life, that’s what happened,” said Chad proudly. “I am officially the coolest person in Mount Angus. Y’think Lacy’ll go out with me now?”

“You could always ask,” said Kiko, wondering whether he’d get anything of use from Chad anyway. He didn’t seem particularly reliable. In fact, he seemed a little more out of it than usual. Shock, or painkillers, maybe.

“That would mean I’d have to break up with Em,” said Chad, frowning. “I don’t think she’d like that too much.”

“Was there anyone around when it happened?” asked Kiko, and Chad looked up.

“The cops asked that, too. Nope, I didn’t see anyone. The explosion was from one of the boxes.”

“One of the boxes? Not in the truck or the building—”

Chad was shaking his head.

“No, no, def a box, boss. I was picking up the one from Joylove’s and it went off.” He paused again, squinting and frowning. “Or was it the one from the school? I just moved that one, too. I can’t remember.”

“I’m sure the police have figured that out by now,” said Kiko, thinking Dom was overestimating their ability to untangle a mystery.

“Who would put an explosive in a box? It’s crazy. Like, just blow up the building if they wanna take out Yolks on You, right?”

“I am very glad they didn’t.”

“‘Course you are. But you got insurance, right? Anyway, wanna see what they pulled out of me?” Without waiting for a response Chad reached over to the bedside table and rummaged through candies until he pulled out a plastic jar. He passed it to Kiko.

“All this?”

“Yep,” said Chad, almost lovingly. “Shrapnel. Mostly plastic crap, pieces of eggshell and little toys.”

Kiko turned the jar over in his hand, trying not to be disturbed by the number of items that had embedded themselves into Chad. There were over a dozen nice-sized items, some of them not plastic at all.

“Is that…?”

“Metal? Yep! Parts of the bomb, maybe? It’s my good luck jar now.”

Kiko passed the jar back.

“Why didn’t the police take this as evidence?”

Chad shrugged.

“Who knows? They don’t tell me anything. Their loss.”

Kiko stood, unsure how he felt confronted with the fact the police weren’t doing as good a job as he’d expected of them.

“It was good to see you, Chad, but I have to get back to the store now.”

“Right, right! Say hi to Mother for me. Y’know what’s great, boss? The drugs here are ah-mazing.”

“I’m sure they are,” said Kiko, and left before he ran into Chad’s mother again.