by Dylann Crush
Bodie took the bag back. “Like I said, we’ll dust it for prints. The guys were out here earlier looking for tire tracks and footprints. I’m not hopeful anything will come of it. You must have had a ton of visitors lately.”
“Hardly anyone ever comes out here. What makes you think otherwise?” That didn’t make sense. The only people that had been to her place lately were her and maybe Lacey.
“You’ve got a bunch of footprints around your house.”
“That’s crazy. The only people who’ve been around my place are me and Lacey, and I guarantee she hasn’t been casing the joint. Not since she’s supposed to be on bed rest.”
“Hmm. Interesting.” Bodie tipped his cowboy hat back and scanned the interior of the house.
“What’s interesting?”
“Means we’re probably not dealing with an individual. There are probably a few of them. I’ll need you to check your belongings and see if anything’s missing. Then you can grab what you need. I’ll have to mark this off as a crime scene since it’s pretty obvious we’re not dealing with a standard act of vandalism.”
“Sure. Whatever you need to do.” Zina tried to seem agreeable on the outside but inside she was everything but. How dare someone think they could scare her away from her own home. She rummaged through her stuff, checking to make sure her mama’s wedding ring still sat in her jewelry box and her .357 was still hidden in its case under her bed.
Bodie waited out front while she packed up what she’d need to be away for who knew how long. He’d better hope he found the people responsible. Because if she figured it out first, she’d just as soon wring their necks for the pain they’d caused her, not to mention the animals she spent her days and nights trying to protect.
“Got what you need?” He pushed off from where he’d been leaning against the side of his truck.
“I think so. Any idea how long I’ll need to stay away?”
He shook his head. “I wish I knew. I’d say plan on at least a few weeks. If you need to come back for anything, just let me know and I can meet you out here or bring it to you.”
“Okay.”
“Hey”—he reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze—“I’ll figure out who’s behind this.”
“I know.” She held the emotion at bay, not wanting him to see her break down.
“In the meantime, you’re welcome to stay with Lacey and me. We’d love to have you.”
Zina nodded. “I’ve already had this conversation with your wife. I’ve got to be closer to the dogs. Y’all live too far away.”
“She told me you’d say that. But the offer stands, okay?” He gave her a half-hearted smile. “I’ll call you if I hear anything.”
“Thanks.”
He waited while she tossed her bag in the back of her truck. Her tires spun on the gravel as she executed an awkward three-point turn and hightailed it down the drive, leaving her home behind her.
By the time she got back to the warehouse, she only wanted for one thing . . . a shower. She parked in front of the Phillips House and entered the first floor, calling out for Alex or his grandfather. Neither answered.
Alex wouldn’t be happy about giving up his room, but he was staying for free so he didn’t have a choice. She pulled out a fresh change of clothes and locked the bedroom door. Then she turned on the hot water and prepared to wash away the stress of the day that had barely started.
While the warm water flowed down her body, she considered her options. Stay at the Phillips House until everything blew over and Bodie figured out who was behind the threats. He’d been working on this case for over a year already. The likelihood that he’d be able to bust up the dog-fighting ring and put an end to the threats seemed about as likely as the odds of her settling down with Alex and starting a brood of their own.
She could stay at the Phillips House as long as she needed. Lacey wouldn’t rush her to find a new place. But she had to move the dogs as soon as possible since Alex’s precious penguins would be arriving soon. Which meant she needed to come up with a different temporary solution.
By the time she’d rinsed off, towel dried, and pulled on a fresh pair of jeans, she had a plan. First step, get through the adoption event this afternoon. She had twenty-eight dogs she needed to rehome. It was time to get the word out. And the best person to work with her on that was Lacey. Whether she liked it or not, Zina was about to do whatever it would take to get Lacey to put that circle of influence she’d been curating to good use.
twenty
“Can we see some polar bears? And maybe pet the dolphins while we’re here?” Dolly held tight to his hand, dragging him away from the ticket counter.
“I don’t think they have polar bears at the aquarium.” He tried to check the map in one hand while she tugged and pulled at the other. “First we need to find the penguins.”
“Can we watch them feed the sharks, Uncle Alex?” Frankie pulled on his shirt. “Please?”
“Yeah, we’ll have time for all of that. But first, we have to find the penguins.” He lifted his head from the map, doing a head count. Ever since the night he’d left Dolly at home, losing one of the girls was his greatest fear. Char would never forgive him if he came home one short. The smell of popcorn filled the air. It had been years since he’d been to a place like this.
“Can we get ice cream?” Jordan spoke up from behind him.
“Yeah, sure. Here, get your sisters an ice cream while I figure out where we’re going.” He pulled a twenty out of his wallet and watched while the girls joined hands and made their way over to the ice cream cart. “Gramps, do you want ice cream?”
No response.
He turned around, trying to locate his grandfather in the sea of strollers and kids. The old man sat on a bench about twenty yards back, fanning himself with the baseball cap he’d pulled off his head. Alex kept an eye on the girls while he made his way back to his grandfather.
“You okay?”
“It’s hotter than Hades out here. Aren’t there any exhibits inside? Who visits a place like this on the hottest day of the year?” Gramps pulled his short-sleeve button-down shirt away from his body.
Alex glanced up to where the sun hadn’t even reached its peak yet. A hint of a breeze blew by. “It’s not even noon. You sure you’re okay?”
“Aren’t we going to go inside?”
“Yes. The whole reason we came out here was to see the penguins. Come on, let’s get you out of the sun. How about an ice cream to help you cool down?”
Gramps nodded and let Alex take his elbow. They walked back to where the girls stood in line. After ten minutes of waiting and five minutes of Dolly changing her mind on what flavor she wanted, they found a place to sit and enjoy their cones before heading inside.
“Thanks for the ice cream.” Izzy smiled as she licked at her cone. It had already started dripping down her hand.
“Yeah, thanks, Uncle Alex.” Jordan, Frankie, and Dolly echoed the sentiment. Dolly’s shirt already held more ice cream than was left on her cone. Char might not be thrilled when he returned her daughters much messier than when he’d taken them, but hopefully a day of “me time” would lessen the reaction.
As he sat at the table, surrounded by family, Alex wondered what it would be like to have kids of his own. The thought hadn’t crossed his mind before. He’d always figured he’d be happy being an uncle and leaving it at that. But after spending the night caring for a basket full of puppies, he considered the possibility. Having someone, or something, so dependent on him made him want to step up and meet their needs. He’d always been a one-for-one kind of guy. This one-for-all and all-for-one never resonated with him before. But what if it could?
He glanced over at Gramps. He’d had a son and look where that got him. Alone with no one but two bitter grandkids to look after him. What would life be like if his dad hadn’t passed away? I
f his mom had stuck around?
He shook the thought right out of his head. Didn’t do any good wasting energy thinking about what might have been. The best course of action was to focus on the here and now. And the future. That meant putting all of his attention and efforts into making sure Munyon’s daughter had the best freaking wedding money could buy.
“Y’all done yet? There’s a penguin show in a few minutes.” He wondered what the show would consist of. He’d worked around penguins for a while now, and while they were smart birds, they were also stubborn buggers. Beyond their flapping their flippers for a fish, he wasn’t sure what kind of tricks they’d be willing to perform.
With the ice cream polished off, he picked up the napkins from the table and tossed them in the trash. He waited while Jordan took her sisters into the bathroom to wash off hands and cheeks and chins, and then they all headed indoors to find the penguins.
The theater was half-full with only a minute to go until showtime. Alex got the girls situated, just as the show started. It wasn’t really a show, more like a training session. The birds swam through the water, rang a few bells, and ate a bunch of fish.
The girls clapped along with the crowd at the end of the display. “Now who wants to go meet the penguins?” he asked.
“I do.” Frankie skipped down the concrete steps toward the tank.
“I have to go potty.” Dolly’s mouth screwed into a precocious frown.
“Again?” Jordan asked. “I just took you.”
Dolly shrugged.
“Jordan, can you take your sister to the bathroom? Gramps, go with them and make sure they come back? Izzy and Frankie can stay with me.” He didn’t want to split up the group, but he had to get a few words in with the penguin trainers while he had the chance.
“Fine.” Jordan took Dolly’s hand and stomped off in the direction of the bathroom.
“Gramps? Keep an eye on them, okay?” Alex nudged his chin toward the girls.
“Yeah, okay.” Gramps shuffled off behind them.
“Now let’s go meet those penguins, shall we?” Alex pointed down the steps.
Izzy took off toward the tank, leaving Alex to follow. Taking care of some penguins for a couple of weeks had to be easier than trying to corral four girls and a grumpy old man. On the way down to the front, he noticed a few cracks in the concrete and a couple of places where the tank of water had been patched up. No wonder the director was willing to make a deal with Munyon. His penguin amphitheater was in massive need of repairs. The habitat probably matched.
He stood at the edge of the tank until one of the staff came over. “Do you have a question?”
Alex held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Alex Sanders.”
“Nice to meet you. What can I do for you?”
“I’m taking a handful of your penguins for a couple of weeks.”
“That’s right. The wedding. You’re the scientist from Antarctica, right?”
Alex didn’t bother to correct him and tell him he was just a grunt who’d happened upon the job. “Are you in charge here?”
“Supposedly. What do you need?”
“I was told I’d be able to pick the penguins that would be coming to Ido for the wedding?”
The man’s mouth turned down into a frown. “Don’t you think you’re a little late for that?”
Alex’s chest tightened. “What do you mean?”
“We sent them over this morning. I was told the habitat was ready and the director needed them over there as soon as possible.”
“But I haven’t even met them yet.” Alex’s heart thumped. “You’re telling me a half dozen penguins left here this morning and are on their way to Ido?”
“A half dozen?” The guy’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve got twelve of my birds on their way to you. I’d like to know what you’re doing here and who’s going to be there to meet them.”
Twelve birds? Alex took a moment to let that information rattle through his head. “What time did they leave?”
The guy checked his diving watch. “I packed them up right before the show started. Maybe a half hour ago, tops.”
“I’ll handle this.” Alex reached for the girls’ hands. “Come on, we’ve got to go.”
“You mess with my birds and you’ll be hearing from our lawyer.” The trainer’s voice bounced off the concrete, following Alex down the stairs as he tugged his nieces toward the bathroom where he hoped to find Gramps and the others.
He wanted to yell back that the guy could get in line. By the time the wedding was over, there would probably be a long list of people who wanted to sue him. As he shuffled the girls to the truck, he tried to call Zina. She’d be at the warehouse. She could stall the driver and give him enough time to get home and figure out what was going on. There had to be a mistake.
* * *
* * *
Zina had almost finished setting up for the adoption event. Alex said he’d be there to help, but she hadn’t seen him yet. She should have known better than to get her hopes up that he might come through for her.
At least her volunteers had shown up, along with a small crowd of people thanks to Lacey making some last-minute calls. It would be bittersweet to see the pups go. She always felt a little bit of a loss when one of them went off with their new owners. But it was for the best. All of the dogs deserved new homes—somewhere where they could get the unconditional love they deserved.
Maybe someday she’d finally get to see for herself what that felt like. She shook off the mood that had settled over her, and made the rounds, checking on the dogs and volunteers to make sure everything was in order. The last time they’d tried to hold a big event like this, a group had shown up to protest having pit bulls around town. Things had settled down since then but thanks to the brick that had gone through her front window, she was prepared for just about anything.
“Hey, Zina, I’ve got a guy interested in Buster.” One of the regular volunteers approached.
“Really?” Her stomach turned over at the thought of Buster leaving. But it was for his own good. Zina tried to act nonchalant as she walked toward Buster’s kennel. The “guy” was Jasper Taylor. They’d gone to high school together but she hadn’t seen much of him since she’d moved back.
“Hey, Zina.” He gave her a smile as he leaned toward Buster’s crate. “Long time no see.”
“Jasper, what are you doing out here today?” As far as she knew he still lived outside town. His family ran a huge commercial pecan orchard or something like that.
“My aunt Suzy said you were having a big event, so I figured I’d come check it out. I just had to say good-bye to Justice. Lost him to liver cancer last fall.”
“I’m sorry. Have you met Buster yet?”
“Just through his kennel.”
“Let me give you a proper introduction.” She stopped when she got to Buster’s kennel. “He’s one of my favorites.”
“Seems like a good guy.”
“He is.” Her favorite dog wasn’t going to go home with just anyone. “He needs someone who will make sure he gets his exercise. He’s a big couch potato.”
“That’s what I love about this breed. They’re huge snugglers.”
Zina opened the door to the kennel and clipped a leash on Buster’s collar. “Let’s take him out where he’s not distracted by the others.”
They walked past a few people who were checking out other dogs. Buster followed, his tail wagging. They reached the door, and Zina pushed it open. Sunlight streamed in and she shielded her eyes. Something big and dark sat in the middle of the drive, blocking the cars behind it.
“What in the world?” she muttered to herself.
“What’s going on?” Jasper asked.
“I have no idea. Here, you want to take Buster around the lawn and get to know each other?” She passed him the leash, intent on finding o
ut who had driven a semi into the middle of her dog adoption event.
“Thanks. We’ll stay close.”
Satisfied that Buster was in good hands, she turned her sights on the truck. A man got down from the cab, a clipboard in hand. Zina met him halfway to the building.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“I’ve got a delivery here for an Alex Sanders.” The man held out the clipboard. “If you’ll sign, I can unload the cargo.”
“What is it?” She glanced at the clipboard. Something about live animals jumped off the page. “Wait, you don’t have penguins in that truck, do you?”
“Sure do. Where would you like me to put ’em?”
Zina’s heart leapt into her throat. “Nowhere. We’re not ready. You’ll have to take them back.”
“Lady, I just drove all the way from Houston. There’s no way I’m taking them back.”
“But . . .” This was Alex’s problem. He was the one who ought to be fixing it.
“Can you sign please? Once I leave here I get to go home for a few days.”
“Hold on a minute. I need to make a call about this.”
He huffed out a breath and rolled his eyes. “Sure, take all the time you need.”
Zina handed the clipboard back, then pulled her phone out of her back pocket. It didn’t turn on. She’d forgotten to plug it in last night since she’d been so busy with Alex. Speak of the devil . . .
Alex came rushing up the drive with his nieces and his grandfather in tow. “What’s going on?”
“Expecting a delivery?” She thrust her hands to her hips.
“I wasn’t. But I was just at the aquarium and they heard we were ready for the penguins, so they went ahead and sent them over.”
“Seriously? What are you going to do about it?” She gestured to the line of cars waiting to turn in to the parking lot. “I’ve got people trying to get in here to meet the dogs. You know, the dogs you need me to get out of here.”
He put his hands to his temples. “Just give me a minute.”
