Mr. Verres is a man genuinely interested in helping people. He can be a bit of a jaded, over-espository jerk, but he's sort of earned it. I don't want to go into too many details, but seriously, dude's done some important stuff in his day.

That said, you'd think he'd be able to figure out where he'd need to send people to find Elliot and Tedd if he got a call the night before. Maybe the guard didn't mention them leaving on foot? Come to think of it, the guard probably should've been able to call someone for IT'S 2014 YOU WROTE THIS IN 2002 LET IT GO DAN YEESH

I believe that's a can of food in Jeremy's mouth. I know someone somewhere was wondering about that at some point. I originally pictured Jeremy with a can in his mouth and frustratedly banging it against a cabinet or something, but this was 2002 artwork, so I settled for a really angry spiny kitty.

I believe this is the first instance of an alien being shown in the comic! Could be wrong, but I think it is. Won't be the last.

Final note: Literal Grace is literal.

Commentary added November 19, 2014