cleaning crew near the main entrance of the Denver Zoo.” He met my eyes and cupped my jaw. “Go, baby.”
“I need my phone,” I whispered. “I think it’s still in my car.”
“Get it, then get the fuck outta here.”
I nodded, finding my phone just under the driver’s seat where it obviously fell, then I headed back into the zoo, putting a pin in my need to completely freak out. I needed to compartmentalize for the moment and help Joe. Making a run back inside, I found Joe limping toward the staff building.
“Joe!” I called out. “Are you okay?”
He faced me and leaned over, settling his hands on his knees. “Was that you doing the Tarzan yell?”
“Yeah. Sorry. I just wanted them to leave you alone.”
“You saved my life, Letti. Swear to Christ, they were ready to shove me in with Brady.”
Brady was our oldest lion and had been with us since the day he was born. He was relatively docile, but you still wouldn’t want to be stuck alone with him.
“Why are you limping?” I asked.
“Cut my leg on the iron fencing. I managed to get free, but slashed my leg in the process. I was gonna see if I could bandage it up.”
“I’ll help,” I said, wrapping an arm around his waist and helping him toward the first aid area. “You think you can do me a favor?”
“Anything for you, Letti girl.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Violet
THREE HOURS LATER, any evidence of illegal activity had been scrubbed from the record so to speak. Mara arrived, apologizing profusely that she didn’t call anyone. Her brother had been in a car accident and she needed to help with her nephew and ended up getting in a little over her head.
She said nothing about two dead bodies, so I could only assume she either didn’t park in the platinum lot, or Aero had already taken care of them.
I hoped it was both.
“You should go ahead and take off,” Mara said. “You were supposed to be off for two days, right?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“Well, go ahead and take three. I’ll email Al and copy you on it letting him know my screw up. If he has any issues, he can let us know.”
Mara wasn’t my boss, but she had been with the zoo for ten years, so she had seniority over me. Al was the boss directly below the big boss, and typically handled most of the staffing issues, but he was not a micro manager when it came to scheduling. As long as someone was doing the job, he didn’t really care who did it.
“Thanks, Mara, that would be amazing,” I breathed out.
I was going to need at least one full day to completely freak out, so this would give me another day to recover.
I gathered my stuff, then headed to Joe’s security office to make sure he was okay. My phone buzzed before I got to the door and since it was Aero, I answered.
“Hi,” I said.
“We’re done here, baby. You able to leave?”
“Yes. I’m just checking on Joe.”
“No, you’re comin’ to me now, Violet. I will take care of Joe.”
“Like you did the Bulykins?” I rasped.
“Baby, I will explain, but I need you to come. Now.”
I nodded, and turned away from Joe’s door, heading out a side door and making my way out to Aero.
“Baby, you still there?”
“Yes, I’m almost to you,” I said. “Don’t hang up.”
I was probably a few hundred yards from him, but I still felt like I needed the connection our phones brought.
“I won’t.”
I approached the gate, then pulled out my key card, swiping it and pushing the portal open. Then I was in Aero’s arms, and totally losing my shit.
“Baby, hold it together for just a little bit. I’ll drive you home and you can freak out in the car.”
“Will they come back for Joe?” I whispered.
“No. We’re gonna take care of him, but you need to get in the car, okay?”
He linked his pinky with mine and I nodded, then he released me just enough to lead me to the car but we didn’t quite make it, because my dad wrapped me tight into his arms and I had to grip his leather jacket not to fall.
“You okay?” Dad asked.
“Yes. I’m fine, Daddy.”
He loosened his grip and cupped my face. “You sure?”
I bobbed my head, lying in physical form.
“I’m gonna stop by later to make sure.”
I pressed my lips into a thin line and avoided his eyes.
“Gonna let you go now,” he said, and I