Chapter 9

Andy hurriedly gulped down the last spoonful of…it wasn’t chili like any Andy had ever had, but it wasgood anyway. “Captain?” he asked once he’d finished swallowing, following Scooter across the floor.

“Our D’ante was in the Air Force. Came home after his wingman got shot down. He’s had a tough time of it, but he’s coming out the other side of the clouds now, I think.” He led Andy around the side of the building. Near the door lay an assortment of tools, including a crowbar and several strips of plywood with long nails sticking out of them. “We get a lot of storms out this way, hurricanes every year or so.Plywood’s the second largest business around here, aside from tourists. Pry them nails out and we’ll put the boards back in storage when we’re done. Make sure not to leave nails in the sand. Lotsa people around here walk around in flip-flops, or barefoot. There should be a coffee can around here you can putthem in.” He gestured to a claw hammer in the tool pile.