by RM Alexander
“Cami, I-" He looked up for a moment before staring at her again. “I don’t even know what to say. You know better, and I know you’re pissed, but –" Alex dropped his eyes to his feet. “I’ll finish up with what I have to do today, go home. Maybe take tomorrow off. Give you a chance to cool off.”
She didn’t speak, lips pursed tight, arms tighter around her ribcage.
“Yeah, right. Later.”
He stormed off, shaking his head, and Cami relaxed, then hung her head low.
Why did I just do that? Alex of all people.
The cruiser pulled up the driveway and she tensed again. “That’s why.” A low moan escaped her throat as she trudged to greet Tommy.
Sitting at the kitchen table, the brick bagged in plastic, Cami signed the statement as Tommy sat looking on. Scratching out the last letter in blue ink, she slid the paper back across the table.
“So where’s Alex?” he asked, shuffling the paperwork together and sliding it into the a folder.
She shrugged, fingers tracing the strips of grain.
“But he’s the one who called me.”
She looked up. “Yeah, so?”
He leaned into the chair, legs stretched to the side of the table. “You argued.”
She shrugged.
“Because he called me.”
“Look, Tommy, I’ve got this covered. It’s no big thing. He overreacted, and now I’m going to have police watching the sanctuary like guard dogs. It wasn’t needed.”
“He cares about you, Cami. What’s wrong with that?”
She dropped her head back with closed eyes. “Don’t you get started too, Tommy.”
“You can only push someone away so many times before they don’t come back, you know that, don’t you?”
She met him with a roll of her eyes. “How’d I get so lucky to have so many hopeless romantics around me? There’s nothing going on between Alex and I. Never has been.”
Tommy sighed, palm rubbing along the side of his face. “Okay, Cami. Hey, whatever you think. Either way, he was just trying to protect you, like he always does.” Redirecting attention to the paperwork, he asked, “Any idea who might have done something like this? Has anyone you haven’t known long been spending a lot of time here, or anyone who works here been acting strange that you’ve noticed?”
Cami shook her head slowly. “No, not really.”
“From the town hall meeting? Seen any of those faces around here?”
She paused, looked out the window. “Paul Schotter,” she said quietly. Turning to face Tommy, she asked, “He’s been asking me out on dates, taking tours of the sanctuary, things like that.”
Tommy looked up, eyes twinkling. “Could be worth talking to him. Do you think there’s a relationship starting there?”
“Between us?” She laughed and shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. He’s actually a nice guy, I think. He seems to be. But, he tried shutting me down and I’m always careful with him. Still, I don’t think he’s the violent type – I’d think he’d come after me with another petition or something legal.” She looked out the window again. “But I can’t be sure. I don’t know him that well.”
“I’ll talk to him. I know Paul, so it won’t be a problem. In the meantime, keep an eye open, be extra careful. I’ll have a patrol car drive by a couple times a day, but you know with the size of the property, a drive by isn’t going to do much.”
She nodded. It wasn’t going to do much, and it was unnecessary. Someone may want to scare her, but they wouldn’t succeed.
“And Cami, I shouldn’t have to tell you, but I’m thinking I do. If anything else happens, I want you to contact me, okay? We’ve got to keep everything that happens recorded. Okay?”
Cami rolled her eyes, “Yeah, okay, Tommy.”
“I’m serious, Cami. Don’t play around with this, understand?”
She nodded. “I get it. I’ll call you.” Does he want it written in blood?
“Please do.” He stood. “Next time we get together, let’s do it socially, okay? Maybe give Cilla a call and we can have you over for dinner sometime.”
“All right. Tell her I said hi, and give the little one a hug from me.”
“Will do.”
Alone in the country kitchen, she rapped her hands against the table, a soft growl sounding between her lips. Alex. Threats. Paul. The cats.
Crap.
Chapter Fifteen
Cami peered out the window to see Paul’s truck parked on the side of the drive, squinted, and saw he wasn’t inside. Her jaws worked, scanning the front yard, shook her head. No doorbell, no knock. Biting the side of her lip, she headed outside.
The front yard empty, she crossed the trimmed grass to the side, searching behind the house and shaking her head. Hands on hips, she turned, mind racing. He’s here, but where? Running a hand through her hair and with narrowed eyes, she marched towards the sanctuary.
Paul came into view, standing outside of Cato’s enclosure, and Cami felt everything inside boil. Quickening the pace, she stalled for a moment as Tank stepped out from in front of Paul. They couldn’t know one another. Didn’t seem likely. Tank was a good guy, but didn’t spend time with people like Paul. Her jaw protested as her clenched teeth tightened.
“Paul? Tank? What are you doing out here?”
Tank turned and Paul stuffed both hands in his pockets.
“Oh, hi, Boss. I ran into Paul in the drive and he was looking for you. I thought you might be out here by the cats, and invited him to walk with me.”
Cami stopped short inches from Paul, searching him. “Oh yeah? Didn’t know you were coming out here today?”
Paul smirked, angling away from Cato. “Didn’t you? I thought we had a date?”
She chuckled and shook her head, stepping closer. “A date … no …” She stopped and winced. Hands on hips, Cami bent at the waist. Of course. “The date.”
He nodded. “You know, comfortable shoes, five or six hours away from here – looks like you could really use it.”
Cato groaned behind them. She looked past Paul, seeing Cato’s tail and fur on is back twitching. She took hold of Paul’s arm, pulling him away as Tank nodded and headed in another direction.
Paul glanced over a shoulder at the crouching tiger and trotted from the enclosure. The groaned deepened into a low growl and Cami place a hand on Paul’s forearm. “Don’t, don’t do that. You start running away and you begin to look a bit like prey.” She fought a smile at his ashen face. “No need to get sick,” she nodded at the enclosure. “He can’t get to you, but don’t agitate the cats.”
He grinned, let a breath out of circled lips. “Sorry. They make me nervous.”
“You sure I’m the only reason you were out here?”
Paul stepped closer, threatening a kiss. “You’re the reason I look forward to every day. I never know what to expect next.”
She rubbed an arched eyebrow. “I … "
Thunder crashed in the distance, she looked above to a darkening sky. “I think we’re going to have to postpone. Looks like the weather is coming in.”
Another roar of thunder and he nodded. “Are you sure? We can do something else. Go somewhere else.”
“It’s been a bad morning anyway.” And the weather has just rescued me.
He frowned, took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Okay. I’ll talk with you soon.”
They parted and Cami growled. Any points he scored the day before were struck as a penalty. Whatever trust existed was gone.
The storm rolled in from the east and pounded the ranch with angry rain. Cami, Liz, and a few other hands rushed across the sanctuary, securing the cats in pens and double checking security before racing into the house.
Cami tossed towels to everyone as they huddled in the kitchen. Wrapping one around golden tresses, she leaned against the wall, listening to the crashing thunder.
Liz turned her head to the side, rubbing tawny strands. “Noticed Alex didn’t come in today.”
Liz narrowed her eyes. “He never misses a day. What happened?”
“Oh, come on. Can’t we talk about something other than Alex? It’s a dead horse.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Liz ran the towel down her neck, oblivious to stares she earned from the men in the room. “Why isn’t he here?”
Cami laughed and turned away, hanging the towel over a nearby chair. “Because we got into it, okay? Good grief. Why is everyone so interested in my relationship with Alex? Is it a topic for the gossip columns? A celebrity post? We’re friends, Liz, that’s all. Friends. And he crossed the line. I let him know it.”
Liz draped the towel over a nearby doorknob. “Hey, look, I’m not the enemy, so hold the darts, okay? But everyone else around here seems to realize there’s more than friendship there. Everyone but you. I’m thinking it’s time you open your eyes.”
“And I’m thinking you and everyone else needs to get off my tail. I’ve been seeing Paul Schotter, remember?”
Liz nodded. “Yeah, I remember. And how’s that going?”
She shrugged, temper cooling. “We kissed.”
Liz pulled her over to the side of the room. “You kissed? Really. No wonder you and Alex got into it.” Cami rolled her eyes. “So?”
She shrugged. “So what? Nothing to tell.”
“Are you going to see him again?”
“Maybe.”
“Then there’s something to tell. Was he a good kisser?”
Cami laughed. “Seriously Liz, you have got to let go of the whole high school thing.”
“We’re older, but we’re not old. And I want details, missy.”
“It was nice. There’s nothing else to tell.”
Liz groaned. “Cami, I tell ya. You don’t wanna have any fun.”
She sighed, sitting on a window seat on the far side of the fridge. “Yes, Liz. I do. I want something exciting, something that makes me scream from the rooftops and squeal, and rapture, and forever.”
Liz smiled as she settled next to Cami. “Oh, listen to you get all philosophical.”
“Alex isn’t that.”
“And Paul is?”
She shrugged, back against the refrigerator, foot resting on the seat. “I don’t know. I don’t even know if I can trust him. He was down by the tigers a bit ago. He tried shutting us down and now threatening letters, and the brick –"
“Wait, brick? What brick?”
Cami rubbed her eyes. Walked right into that one. First with Alex and now Liz. How could I be so careless? “It’s nothing. Tommy came by yesterday and took it as evidence, opened a file. He’s watching the ranch. We’re fine. The point is, it could be Paul doing all of this. He wanted to shut us down before, how do I know the kiss isn’t just a guise for ulterior motives?”
Liz leaned back, turned to scan the men on the other side of the room. Cami followed the gaze. They were lost in their own conversations, and judging from the way they slapped one another on the back, none of it serious.
Liz grinned softly and returned her attention back to Cami. “You don’t. Do you think he’s capable of something like that? Because if you do, don’t see him again. I love you and I don’t want to see something happen.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know, Liz, but I want to think he’s not. Could he be trying to close us again? Maybe, but I think he’d do it legally. I don’t think he’s underhanded like that.”
“Plus he’s a good kisser.”
Cami slapped her friend’s shoulder. “Grow up already.”
“Naw.” The grin faded. “Just be careful. Okay?”
“Now you sound like Tommy.”
“He’s smart. And he’s a cop. Listen to him.”
She stared at her hands. “I’m not careless, or stupid.”
“I know that. But being too close to something can make you blind.”
“I’m not that either.”
Liz stood up with a sigh. “I love you sweetie, but you are blind to more than you think. I’m going to give Bret a call, see if he’s on the road with this storm.” She turned to the group of men. “Hey Scott, are they still saying we’re under a tornado watch?”
The baritone of the oldest in the group – a man in his early thirties – answered without turning around. “No watch. Warning now. We better get to the cellar. Those twisters can come up pretty fast.”
Cami groaned. They could go to the cellar if they wanted to, she was staying above, watching out for the cats.
Liz headed towards the hallway. “You all go ahead. I’ve got to check on Bret, and convince Cami to head down too.”
Cami narrowed her eyes as he turned to stare her down. “Can’t help the cats if you get killed in process. Let’s go.”
“You know sometimes I could …”
Liz grimaced. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, go with the guys. I’ll be down in just a few minutes.”
She already had the phone to an ear, and Cami rolled her eyes. People needed to get out of her business and stay out. “I’m not running downstairs like a scared little child. If something happens with the cats …”
“Hold on Bret,” Liz put a hand over the mouth piece. “Throw her over your shoulder, Scott.”
Sheglowered. “Don’t you dare, or you’re fired.”
He stretched his shoulders backwards, hands in the air. “She’s all yours, Liz. I’m not arguing with the boss lady. She’ll throw me in with Cato.”
A roar of laughter collected across the room as wind howled across the roof.
Liz pressed a finger against one ear, shouted into the mouthpiece. “Bret, where are you? Get somewhere safe, we’re headed to the cellar here. Love you, babe.”
Cami rolled her eyes. Babe. Good grief.
Liz’s thumb pushed the button and wrapped a hand around Cami’s arm. “Come on, tiger lady. Let’s get to the basement ‘til this passes. Alex’ll come after me if something happens to you, and I’m not ready to fight him off.”
“Yeah, like he’s a threat.”
“Maybe not to you, but to me. I’m not ready to fight that dark, tall and handsome. And I think too much of him and love Bret too much to deal with a confrontation between them. Let’s go.”
Pulling her arm free, Cami trudged alongside her friend, secretly thankful for a friend who was more of a sister, not afraid to stand up to her.
And wondered why she missed Alex, but barely thought of Paul at all.
The storm passed through, tornado free. Few branches and blown litter strewn across the lawn and against the fencing, and Cami stepped outside, passing garbage and stepping over branches, to Regellius’ cage.
“Hey boy. You okay in there?”
A low moan and then familiar chuff greeted her, the massive cat lumbered out from the shadows, thick paws slapping the ground. Wet fur bristled, making him look twice the normal size, the white of his underbelly marred with thick, brown mud. He groaned and eased in her direction.
“I know it, boy. We’re going to be build an underground holding area for you and your friends. Next threatening storm won’t be a threat to you all, okay?”
Regellius rubbed against the fencing, Cami poking a finger in to poke at his ear. A chuff, and he returned to the darkness of his pen. She nodded. “No problem boy. We all need to unwind sometimes.”
“Everything okay here? The cats all right?”
Cami allowed a small smile to trace her lips as she turned to face Alex. “They’re okay. Thanks for coming.”
“It was a bad storm. Wanted to make sure you were all safe.”
She kicked at the ground with a booted toe. “Listen, Alex, I’m not good at apologizing, but I’m sorry about yesterday. I shouldn’t have gotten so angry.”
Alex smiled. “An apology. Don’t hear those too often.” He looked into Regellius’ pen as the cat eased towards them, soundless in movement. “Hey Reggy. Cami, it’s okay. I crossed a line. You’re a private person, and just because we’re friends d
oesn’t give me right to cross boundaries I know exist.”
“Off the record?” Cami leaned forward, a small smile. “You have every right when you’re trying to look out for me. Just don’t make that public, okay?”
He grinned. “Deal. Okay, so what’s the damage?”
Just like that. She snorted and smiled. “Not bad actually. Almost none at all. Garbage and natural debris. We’re going to need to take a walk through the outdoor arena, make sure nothing fell in that could potentially injure the animals, especially near each tower. Once we can, we’ll set them free outside, and I want to figure out how to do an underground enclosure to protect the animals in the case of a tornado.”
“A lot of work, and a bit of a challenge. It could mean ripping up what’s already there.”
Cami let out a heavy sigh “I hope not, it would mean wasting a good amount of money on temporary housing for the cats. But whatever needs to be done, we need done. Should a real tornado come through here, it could rip up fencing, free the cats, or even kill them. Either scenario doesn’t work well for me.”
He shook his head. “No, me neither. And you’re right. We need emergency housing. Anything else?”
She shrugged. “Don’t know. Let’s get started with that walk. Want to gather the guys and we’ll divide into groups, split the area into sections?”
“Works for me. I’ll be back in a moment. You taking Regellius’ tour?”
She smiled. “I play favorites, I guess.”
“That’s okay. The adoration is mutual, I think.”
She nodded, knowing he was right.
Alex turned away from Cami, feeling better than when he woke. She might be a pain in the neck to handle sometimes, but that’s why he was so crazy about her. High maintenance women didn’t interest him. He didn’t want to watch some woman sit at the kitchen table comparing nails on each hand for blemishes and length. Sure, nice to look at, but Cami was that and more. She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, get a scratch on her perfect skin, even if that scared him half the time. Terrified him.
