the area. The one animal looking my way was a beastly but very human veterinarian.
I couldn’t read humans, no matter how hard I tried. After discovering my post-coma ability, I’d expended a ton of energy attempting to reach my own species. It just didn’t work. So, what or who had formulated such a crude thought?
For the first time, which added to the mystery, there weren’t any pictures accompanying the words. In general, animals didn’t use words in the traditional sense. Their thinking revolved around their senses, and what they both saw and heard, sort of like a video preview. With this latest development, I’d entered uncharted territory.
Today, I’d heard, without a doubt, the worded thought of an animal. My gift was expanding, transforming again. The capricious ability seemed to evolve without notice. An animal using the “B” word was beyond baffling. It was bizarre.
“Sorry to interrupt your coffee break, but I thought we should get moving. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.” Zane’s commanding tone implied that he was used to getting what he wanted.
I gasped, almost spilling my coffee.
Towering over me, it was evident he’d left his newfound followers to their own work.
How such a large man could approach with such stealth was unnerving. He’d advanced without my knowledge — something that never happened. Having a cop for a parent had taught me to be ultra-vigilant. Bottom line: I should have heard him.
“Excuse me, but I’m not on a break, as you so quickly assumed. My shift,” I glanced meaningfully at my watch, “doesn’t start for ten more minutes.” I swallowed my uneasiness with a long drink.
“Fine, I’ll join you.” Without waiting for an invitation, he took a seat on the bench. Stretching his legs, he rotated his shoulders. I was overwhelmed by a masculine, musky fragrance. Shampoo? Whatever it was smelled way too good. I inched away, hoping to put a safer distance between us.
What’s with her? Do I stink?
“What?” I stammered. This couldn’t be happening. Of all people, why him?
Seeming to realize that I’d infiltrated his thoughts, he grimaced.
Just Great! Considering we’d be working together, good ole Luke had explained my talent to our newest employee. But why Zane would assume that my animal-reading-ability extended to him, a human being, was beyond me.
I leaned closer, this time forgetting to hide my intentions.
Attempting to slide into his mind, I was met with a brick wall — a very vivid image of a brick barrier blocked my probing, making it impossible to sense anything.
I was shut out, on purpose, it seemed.
No animal had ever stopped my snooping. They seemed eager to comply. Apparently, humans were different.
Between my latest encounter with death, my ever-expanding talents, the murders, and Zane’s sudden appearance, I felt my stress level rising. I had to make a decision: Stuff my feelings until later, when I could sort through them alone, or go bonkers and lose my job.
The example my parents' had set once again guided my decision. For now, I’d ignore the strange incidents and pretend my world was standing right side up.
Gulping down the last of my coffee, I handed Zane a park map. “Let’s go.”
Forcing myself to treat Zane as I would any new employee, I babbled on about the various animals, citing their unique traits, histories, and dispositions. Zane took careful notes and remained silent other than a number of questions about the black bears. I was grateful that he hadn’t attempted to bring up our earlier mind reading encounter or yesterday’s lion taming/Chloe shaming incident.
The few times I tried to tune in to his thoughts left me disappointed. The brick wall remained strong, shielding his mind. The good news — he didn’t seem aware of my failed intrusions, at least he didn’t acknowledge them. Maybe the barrier he’d managed to erect was permanent, although I wasn’t sure how that would work. It wasn’t like I’d found a how-to-manual for my condition.
“What’s going up over there?” Zane stopped to watch several men working on a new exhibit building.
“Come on. I’ll show you.” I hurried ahead eager to see the latest developments.
Luke’s dream to add a mini-aquarium was becoming a reality. I was amazed by the progress.
“Hey, Chloe!” Joel, one of the younger workers, turned to wave from his rooftop perch, bumping several nearby metal poles in the process.
One of the huge rods was catapulted my direction.
With no time to move away, I dropped to my knees, covering my head with my arms. I felt a gust of air.