“Who buys that stuff?” she asked. “Haven’t they got any compassion?”
The look on Garrett’s face told her what she already knew. People like Parker couldn’t be explained. Ignorance and greed replaced any semblance of a soul. They cared about nothing and no one, other than themselves.
“Come on, we’ve got to get back before he notices.”
“What about the buyers? Can you catch them?”
Garrett shrugged. “Sometimes. When we can track the shipments. Some of it is shipped to illegal collectors and black‑market dealers – mostly in countries like China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. Animal parts are sold as aphrodisiacs and useless medicinal aides to the ignorant and superstitious.” He pulled at a pile of vines that had fallen into the path. “Unfortunately, it takes a lot to change the world. Even when we catch them, the punishment doesn’t always fit the crime.” He shook his head. “These are major crime syndicates and they’ve got a lot of power.”
“Do you think Parker can get out of this? He does have a lot of money.”
“Not if I, and the people I work with, have any say in it.” Garrett brought his shirt up to wipe a wet brow. “He’s a big fish, and those three tigers are endangered. The damage he’s done is monumental. If it’s not tigers, it’s rhinos, if not rhinos, it’s elephants, and on and on.” His lips narrowed in a tight frown of disgust. “Would you believe 25,000 elephants were killed in 2011? Chopped up for no good reason.” He kicked at the ground. “Like they say, there’s a special place in hell for people like that. I’m just hoping we’ve got more than enough evidence to bury the Maxons.”
“How come it’s so difficult to stop the poaching?”
Garrett pointed into the jungle. “Have you seen anyone around to stop him and his men?”
Liddie shook her head. “Just you.”
He frowned. “Well, that’s the problem. It’s a war, and we need more boots on the ground.”
“And that takes money,” she acknowledged.
“And money, paired with a conscience, has become a rare commodity,” spit Garrett.
Liddie took his hand and held tight. Now that she knew, she’d help. In her mind, there were few people lower than Parker and his poaching pals, and she would do anything necessary to help Garrett stop them.
Chapter Twelve
Garrett stopped before re‑entering the camp. He looked around, hoping that he and Liddie hadn’t been seen together on the path.
“You go ahead,” he told Liddie. “I don’t want them to see us together.”
Garrett put his hand on her upper arm, ready to direct her forward, but when Liddie looked up, he thought about the risk of letting her go again. If anything happened to her, to this woman who so unexpectedly entered his life and heart…
“Wait.”
“What is it, Garrett? Is someone coming?” Liddie whispered.
He pulled her off the path, behind a tree and into an entanglement of leaves and vines. “I’m not ready to let you go again. Not now that you know who I am.”
He lifted her off the ground and wrapped her in his arms. Holding Liddie brought resolve and strength. Letting her go made him feel weak, like there was nothing in the world he could accomplish without her beside him.
“I should have gotten you out of this in the beginning.” He buried his face into her neck, the guilt of keeping her in this situation overwhelming. “I should have told you.”
The soft flesh of Liddie’s hand touched his cheek and calmed the anxiety that grew inside.
“I wouldn’t have believed you. I was such an idiot, Garrett, you knew I wouldn’t have believed you.”
“You forgive me?”
“Forgive you?” she asked with wonder. “By God, Garrett, I couldn’t respect you more.”
He pushed her against the tree and kissed her like it might be his last chance to ever do so again. If there was any possibility that either one of them didn’t make it out, he wanted her to know that it wasn’t because he didn’t care enough to fight – fight to the death for the wildlife, and fight to the death for her.
De Oppresso Liber.
The Green Beret motto, “to liberate the oppressed,” came to Garrett’s mind as it always did when situations were at their most dire. In his years as a soldier for the Army’s Special Forces, Garrett had used the motto to pull him through ominous situations – whether fighting guerrillas in the hills of Afghanistan, or disarming poachers in the tall grasses of Zimbabwe.
He’d been trained in unconventional warfare and excelled at it. The Maxon Corporation didn’t know who they were up against. When Parker turned on Liddie, he’d set Garrett into super soldier mode.
De Oppresso Liber.
For Liddie, the tigers, the birds, the bears, the tapir, the deer and all the other innocents that had no chance of survival when up against men like Parker and his minions.
Garrett would fight.
“You wanted so hard to believe in the fairytale, Liddie.” He buried his face in her neck. “I’m so sorry it’s ended this way.”
“Don’t apologize, Garrett.” Liddie kissed his cheek. “Fairytales are for fools, I know that now.” She reached up and placed a hand on the back of his head. “You’ve brought me back to the real world and what’s truly important.”
He ran his hands up and down her body, at one moment pulling her close with a squeeze, while in the next letting her loose with a sigh.
He so wanted her. Right here, right now. The more Garrett felt her fingers on his face, his chest, and his arms, the more he wanted.
A loud squawk from a bird sitting somewhere high above brought Garrett back to his senses. There was no time for this. As worried as he was as to how it would all end, this wasn’t helping. He let Liddie go and watched her go limp against the tree.
“We need to go.”
She gave a slight smile, and the light of it empowered him just as much as the Beret motto. “Let’s get them, Garrett.”
He swallowed hard, and with one final embrace, gently pushed her toward camp.
****
Liddie made her way out of the jungle ahead of Garrett. As she saw Parker crossing the camp to meet her, every inch of her body vibrated with the urge to run. Of course, it wouldn’t work. She knew that. From now on, she’d place her faith in Garrett and try to remain as strong.
“Where the hell did you go, Liddie?” asked Parker.
“I’m sorry, Parker,” she tried to keep her voice light. “I saw the path and thought it might lead to a river or something.”
“A river?” Parker asked sarcastically. “No. At least not that way.”
“You mean there is a river?” She asked with a casual interest, deciding it might turn out to be useful information, then started walking back toward the cabin, knowing he would follow. The worst thing that could happen right now was if he saw Garrett coming out of the woods where she’d just been.
“Did somebody tell you the river was that way?” He asked, turning to follow.
“No. I’m just saying that, since there was a path, I assumed it led to something.” She laughed. “But it didn’t.”
Parker snorted. “You thought you’d walk into the jungle, all by yourself.” He was being flip, and as much as she wanted to, Liddie fought the urge to respond with too much anger.
“Geez, Parker. What are you so suspicious about? You’re the one who’s been hiding things, not me.”
She watched his eyes dart to the second barn then back to her. He turned to look toward the path, and she quickly tried to distract him.
“Are we going to get some work done or what?” Liddie put her hand on her hip and feigned impatience. “You got me out here, Parker. Let’s do what we have to do and get out.” She pushed a lock of loose hair back behind her ear. “I actually preferred Dubai.”
He tilted his head and looked at her slyly. “All of a sudden you’re on board?”
“I love animals, Parker. If you’re helping them, I want to help as well.�
�� She tried to smile. “I don’t like it here, though. I’m sweaty, and there’s too much mud. But if you’re working with legitimate organizations, I’m fine with it for a little while.” She sighed. “Besides, the sooner we get done, the less those animals have to suffer. They need proper care.”
“And what about us?” asked Parker.
Liddie cringed, but stopped walking to face him. “I still care for you, but we need to talk about where we go from here.” She tried to sound convincing. “You blindsided me with the baby stuff.” She laughed. “I mean, you went from first kiss to birthing an heir in less than twenty‑four hours.”
Parker’s head tilted in thought. “So,” he countered, “What are you telling me?”
“What I told you months ago,” replied Liddie quickly. “That I did want to have children.” She reached out and stroked his arm. “We’ll talk about it, Parker.”
She held her breath as he studied her face. Then he took her hand and started to walk again. His grip was relaxed, and Liddie took comfort in that. When they’d reached the front of their cabin, Liddie went to the door, but Parker didn’t follow.
“When are they getting shipped out?”
Parker didn’t skip a beat. “Tomorrow afternoon the trucks arrive.”
“Okay,” said Liddie. “We’d better get the paperwork done tonight.” She opened the cabin door, relieved to know he wasn’t following her in. “What have you got to eat around here? I’m so low on energy, it’s hard to focus.”
Parker nodded. “Check the fridge. I had them put some meat and fruit in there.”
“Sounds good. Let me know when you’re ready to work.”
Parker knocked on the wood siding and arched an eyebrow. “Look who’s acting like the boss now.”
****
Garrett watched Liddie lead Parker away from the path. She was smart, but Parker was already suspicious. That made him very dangerous.
He waited until Parker disappeared into the office, and then made a dash toward the second barn. It was important to get as much evidence as possible, and he wanted a few more photographs.
After that, he had to figure a way to get to the radio.
Time was running out, and these camps were temporary. As soon as he was able, Parker would kill the animals, ship out the carnage, and then burn the barns along with the remaining evidence.
He had to get to that radio. Garrett was working with the Parks Department on the investigation, and they needed to know where the camp was located. It was his job to supply that information. Once he did, the first team of rangers would be on the way to help him capture Parker and his men. Once the camp was secured, the wildlife conservation teams would arrive to provide care for the animals until they could safely be released back into the wild.
Garrett documented as much as he could. It was a horrible sight. No human with any respect for life would find the waste and cruelty of this camp acceptable. The fact that Liddie had to witness such a butchering made his gut wrench.
When he was certain he’d gathered enough evidence from the second barn, Garrett returned to the first to take additional shots of the animals. After that, he’d have to catch up with Parker and his crew. They’d be missing him soon, if not already.
After snapping more photos, Garrett reached out to hold the hand of a dehydrated agile gibbon. He stroked the fur of the suffering primate, only moving to get it more water. Its fingers clasped Garrett’s and held on, while its eyes searched his for a reason.
How do you fight for the soul of the world, when so many were determined to destroy it? Garrett asked this question often, and always found the answer in the eyes of the animals caged.
How do you not?
****
“So, have you decided what to do about the girl?” asked Jerry.
Parker sighed. It was a good question. All of a sudden, Liddie was acting like she’d come to terms with the arrangement, but he knew better than that.
Liddie didn’t like him anymore. He could see it in her eyes, and the way she kept distance between them. The funny flirt he so desired was lost. He had to decide the best way to handle her now.
“I told her the animals would be out of here tomorrow,” replied Parker.
Paco laughed. “Well then, she’s in for a big surprise. How you gonna handle her when the butcherin’ starts.”
“Yeah, she’s gonna flip,” agreed Jerry.
Parker sighed. He’d already thought about that. It wouldn’t be pleasant, now that she didn’t trust anything she was given to drink, but it would have to be done. “I’m going to stick with the original plan and put her out. For a few days if I have to. Once it’s all over and the barns are burned, she might be all right.” He held up a hand. “What choice would she have?”
“Should’ve left her in town,” said Paco with a nasty grin. “At least until the barns were clear.”
Parker sat down and grabbed a mango from the table. He threw it hard at Paco, hitting the dirty henchman in his face.
“Keep your opinions to yourself.”
Paco rubbed his bruised cheek and retreated to a corner.
Parker hated when they smart‑mouthed him, and it was happening more often. It’s one of the reasons he had to be here. He didn’t trust them half as much as he used to. There was a time when they were happy to get anything he paid. Now, the local poachers negotiated. Now, they wanted more. Always more.
Jerry was standing at the window. Parker noticed his body straighten up from a slouch. “What’s wrong with you?”
“What’s Wade doing with the animals?” he asked.
Parker snorted. “He’s got a soft heart. Says we should keep them hydrated.” Parker couldn’t hide his disgust. “What the hell for, I don’t know.” He found it ridiculous to care for animals he was going to kill. Suddenly, he thought of another reason why Garrett might be showing concern. “He’s probably trying to impress my girl. Watering the animals definitely helped with the cover up.” He shook his head. “Wade’s a pretty smart guy.”
“Smart enough to be in the jungle with her,” said Jerry.
A dark cloud fell over Parker. He’d told Garrett to keep his hands off Liddie until he said otherwise.
“What the hell are you talking about?” He got up and walked over to the window.
“After your girl came off the path and met you. Garrett walked out.”
“They were out there together?” Parker’s suspicions began to surface. He had enough problems with Liddie. Now it was apparent that he might have even bigger problems. If it was true, and Liddie had been in the jungle with Garrett, she didn’t come out running. She didn’t come out afraid. She didn’t come out upset. That raised serious questions about Garrett.
“You think he was with her?” pressed Parker.
“That’s sure how it looked to me.”
“Where’s Garrett now?”
“In the barn.”
“Go check it out.”
Paco opened a plastic tub in the corner. He grabbed two holsters, each holding a gun, and tossed one to Jerry.
Parker thought about Garrett and their past two trips together. The guy could fight and fly. He was also better company than the other two. It would be a huge loss.
He stopped the two men before they left the cabin. “Don’t kill him,” ordered Parker. “I want to know what he’s up to first.”
If it was just a matter of Liddie, they still had that deal. Parker would prefer not to threaten the pact.
****
After she’d left Parker, Liddie grabbed a banana from the top of the fridge and sat on a chair to watch the office from a cabin window. She’d have to get the computer before Parker got back. If she could keep Parker busy, preparing the transport forms and paperwork, Garrett might have a chance to get to the radio.
The door of the cabin across the way opened, and Liddie saw Paco and Jerry come out. A bolt of anxiety ripped through her. Both men had holsters strapped to their waists.
They must
have seen Garrett and her together because they were walking toward the barns. She threw the banana down and tried to think about what to do.
Garrett had to be warned.
If she went out the front door, Parker would probably see her. Instead, she ran toward the back and climbed out the bedroom window. She’d be able to make it halfway to the barn with the cover of the cabins, after that she’d have to veer into the woods to keep from being seen.
The laziness of Parker’s two thugs gave her the advantage. They didn’t appear to be in any great hurry to confront Garrett, and she knew they had good reason to be cautious. However, with the element of surprise on their side, Liddie feared what would happen if she failed to warn him.
She made her way to the back of the first barn by sticking to the perimeter of the camp and staying out of sight. The animals were agitated, but not shrieking like before. She had no doubt that the heat and lack of food was sapping their energy and killing them slowly.
When she got to the back of the building, Liddie looked between the wood slats. She could see the flashes coming from Garrett’s camera. She pounded on the back wall, pulling on different boards to find a loose one.
Garrett ran to her.
“What are you doing here, Liddie?” He looked to see if anyone was coming into the barn. “You need to go back.”
“They’re coming for you, Garrett,” she said quickly. “They’ve got guns.”
Without another word, Garrett pulled on the board until there was a big enough gap to pass her the camera. Liddie clutched it to her chest. The door opened, and Garrett pushed her back into the grasses.
Liddie stayed low, placing the leather strap of the camera around her neck.
“What are you doing in here, Wade?” demanded Jerry.
Liddie felt her heart jump into her throat. Please, she prayed, don’t let anything happen to him.
“I’m admiring the tigers,” replied Garrett. “Might make Maxon an offer on one.”
Liddie could tell he was walking, leading their attention away from the back of the barn and away from her.
Wild Suspicions (Romantic Suspense) Page 15
