He was a little disappointed when Ione Jay, the center’s senior nurse practitioner, greeted him. He checked in at the front desk and spent a few minutes sitting in the waiting room with unfamiliar people complaining about hangovers, food poisoning (likely more hangovers), how no one on the island could drive, the island’s fascist police force, and then finally, mercifully, he was buzzed through to the examination room.

Business was about a thousand percent better-for everyone-but Ellery couldn’t help missing the peace and quiet of the island he now thought of as home, dreams of New York notwithstanding. Even at that time of the morning, the medical center was packed with visitors suffering (loudly) from sunburns, sprains, and stings.īuck Island in summer was a different world from Buck Island the rest of the year. Inside, it was like any other vacation spot emergency facility. BIMC was located in a mid-century former mansion, so from the outside, the building had a cozy look to it. Less great, although he was eagerly looking forward to being cleared for action, was having to stop by Buck Island Med Center on the way into work. In detail.” Definitely a great way to start what promised to be a very busy morning. “What are you doing tomorrow night?” “You tell me.” Jack grinned, leaned in to kiss him one final time, and murmured, “I will. Or even something he planned on doing again. Not that Ellery viewed his sleuthing as a hobby. Amateur sleuthing turned out to be a hazardous hobby. I promised Nora I’d look in.” This was Ellery’s first day-his first official day-back at work after suffering what Jack referred to as an extracurricular concussion. “I could meet you for dessert?” “Silver Sleuths.

Scandal at the Salty Dog by Josh Lanyon