by RM Alexander
The phone rang and she reached for it with a lazy arm, tired with the day’s events and emotions. “Hello?” she whispered.
“Cami? Alex. Are you okay?”
“Yes. Why?”
“You’ve been quiet since we left Battle Creek. Are you feeling okay? Did I hurt you during the storm?”
“No, no, I’m fine.”
A moment of silence. “Okay, then. See you tomorrow.”
“Alex?”
“Yeah?”
She stopped. “Good night.”
“Good night, Cami.”
She cradled the receiver and rolled over, staring at an ugly framed painting of splattered colors. Now what? Confess I’m in love with him? She didn’t doubt he felt the same way, yet …
Yet what?
She didn’t know.
Cami closed her eyes and eased into the drifting moments before sleep, Alex’s name floating along her dreamscape.
The next morning, they didn’t stop for breakfast before heading to the small zoo outside of Battle Creek. A keeper and the DNR agent who contacted her two days earlier showed Cami to the holding area while Alex stayed outside, preparing the cages for the ride back. The cubs would have to be drugged, and him left him to load the tranquilizers. The animals would be traumatized enough by all they had been through, adding an eight hour drive south.
“Here they are, Ms. Lockhart.” The agent motioned towards two small bundles of striped fur. One of the cubs, the smallest of the two, lifted its head at his voice, wide black eyes weighing them both before burying a pink nose into its sibling.
Cami melted.
The agent crossed his arms. “Not sure how old they are. You’re probably a better judge of that than we are. They were the only surviving cats from the home we rescued them from. The others looked as though they had been starved. One was chained to a concrete slab, looked like it might have strangled itself. Another had a metal cuff around his paws, chewed on one of the paws until, well, let’s say it bled to death, most likely.”
Cami blinked hard, her voice hoarse as images flashed through an all too active imagination. “I wish I could say that’s uncommon, but …”
He nodded. “I’m glad we found you. We had contacted a couple other sanctuaries, they were full. I could have held them a few more days had we not found you, but the zoo doesn’t have the space to take them in permanently. I hate to say it, but had we not found you – "
Nodding, she looked to the sleeping cubs. She knew that too, and that they were alive right now only because Lockhart Sanctuary could take them in. The sheriff may have been able to find another sanctuary for them if she’d been unable to take them, or not. If the latter, the cubs would have been euthanized. “Yes, I’m afraid that’s not uncommon either. We’re fairly new, so I have room, but I dread the day when I won’t. It’s a tremendous problem.”
“How are they?” Alex asked as he walked into the room.
She turned with a soft smile. “They’re beautiful.”
Moving forward, she stooped before the cage. “Hi babies. We’re going to take you to your new home.”
The cub which had looked at her moments ago lifted its head again, stood, and wobbled to the edge of the cage, ducking to rub the top of its head against the bars. Cami grinned, poked a finger through the bars, the sheriff’s cautionary voice distant and ignored. “Hi, sweetie. You’re safe now. We’re going to take you on a little road trip, get you checked out and then you’ll be free to be happy. You’ll like the sanctuary, you’ll see,” she cooed.
The cub rubbed against the bars and Regellius face trumped in front of her houghts. Her soft smile spread into a wide grin.
Alex’s hand rested on her shoulder and she looked up. “We’re ready to go.”
She nodded, “Let’s get them to sleep then.”
An hour later, Alex pulled onto I-75 south. The cubs slept soundly in the trailer, curled in a ball next to one another, unlikely to wake before the drive ended.
Cami strained, reaching into the backseat, pulling a bottle of water from the cooler. Righting herself in the chair, she glanced to Alex. “Are you sure you don’t want me to drive?”
He chuckled, rubbed the side of his face with a finger. “Nah, I’m fine. Maybe you can take over later.”
She smiled, knowing that later would never come, flicked the air conditioning on. “If you’re sure.” She turned to the passing summer landscape of Michigan racing by. “Alex?”
“Hmm?”
“Can we go out for dinner when we get home? Just the two of us?”
It felt like the truck slowed, and Cami shyly looked up, reaching across the shallow gulf between them to take hold of his hand. “I’d really like that.”
Alex grinned, lifted her hand to his lips. “You have me for the taking.”
Everything buzzed within her, hummed with coursing happiness.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Alex pulled into the driveway, and Cami shifted in the seat, eyes fluttering open, the shallow sleep when everything could be heard but not responded to – a distant, passing reality fogged by conscious sleep. The feel of Alex’s hand on her thigh, a heavy, comfortable weight testifying of a definable change between them, and she smiled.
“We’re home,” he whispered.
She nodded, noting his use of “we’re home” and realizing the phrase didn’t bother her. The hint of a future. A permanent one. She ran fingers through tousled hair. A commitment she’d never thought of. Committing to tigers, easy. Committing to a long-term relationship was something different. She reached down, took hold of the top of his palm and squeezed.
Alex glanced down at the hand, then lifted to meet her eyes, bright and eager. “I sure can say, time with you is never dull. Tornadoes, devastated hotels, tiger cubs. The promise of a romantic date.”
She laughed. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d prefer to forget the tornado and hotel.”
He shook his head. “Not me. It was time spent with you.”
She smiled and turned to look at the house coming into view. And the cop car sitting in front of it.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The truck edged to a stop and Cami opened the door, sliding to the ground with trepidation. A few men worked in the distance, the lawn care service buzzing from somewhere on the back of the property. Her gaze followed to the police car, no one inside. No doubt Tommy’s car. He wouldn’t send another uniform out to the sanctuary, not even for something other than the investigation. She rubbed the back of her neck, looked up to the porch as the wooden screen door slammed.
Liz stood on the porch, Sadie on her heels. The dog bolted for Cami, tail wagging, barking as it bounced across the yard. She leaned down to scratch behind one of the ears, all the while keeping eyes trained on Liz. Her friend’s emotionless face lacked the welcome home Cami expected, the gait as Liz idled down the sidewalk full of dread.
Something was wrong.
“Hi, Liz.”
“Hey, Cami. Welcome home.” She moved her eyes to Alex, “Hey, Alex. Long journey, huh?”
He laughed. “Not long enough and longer than I would have hoped for, all at the same time.”
Liz didn’t crack a smile or question the light-hearted response. Cami’s shoulders tightened. So uncharacteristic.
Yes, something’s wrong. She steeled herself, heart chilling in expectation. “Is it Regellius?”
Liz shook her head. “No, he’s been steady. Jessica even thinks we might have turned the corner, and he won’t take another slide backwards.”
Relief washed over her, and subsided in a rush. “Then what is it?”
Liz paused, face lined, hands forced into the pockets of her Levi’s. “You need to come inside as soon as you have the cubs moved. Alyssa is expecting you so she can do a physical on them.”
Cami nodded absently. “Tommy’s here.”
She nodded.
“He knows something.”
Liz nodded, the expression stoic.
&nb
sp; Cami glanced over to Alex, his smile gone, face reflecting Liz’s expression. “I’ll take the cubs. Go inside, and I’ll be there in a minute.”
Heart pounded and hands clammy, she nodded. “Okay.” Cami slapped a leg for Sadie to follow, and walked up the mulched walkway with Liz. “It’s bad?”
She shook her head, eyes focused low. “You’re going to have to talk to Tommy.”
With a hard heart, Cami opened the screen door, and walked into the house. She’d been waiting for this. Now she wasn’t ready.
No sounds greeted Cami as she walked into the living room. No television, no music, only a crushing silence. She turned to see Tommy on the edge of the couch, standing as he looked to her. Friends for a lifetime, but no warmth lightening his gray eyes or brightening a careful smile. All business.
“Welcome back. Did you have a good trip?”
She tried to laugh, and failed. “To say it was interesting would be mild. But … Liz said you have some news for me.”
He nodded, the long face frightening her. Whatever he had to say, Cami instinctively knew she didn’t want to hear. “Should we sit down?”
She glanced at the furniture in the room, and Liz already settled uneasily in the armchair. “Am I going to need to sit down?”
He nodded again. “I think so.”
Keeping eyes trained on him, she crossed the room, settled on the couch and waited silently as he eased next to her, frame rigid. She swallowed hard. “So what is it?”
Tommy made a fist with hands clenched together, staring at them as though they held something vitally important. “When I told you I was taking the problems you were having seriously, I meant it. We’ve been friends since middle school, all of us. Threats to my friends, well, I’m a cop, and it is my job, but I also take protecting friends seriously.”
“Hmm-mm.”
He ground the palms together, interlocking fingers not loosening. “Since the first time we talked, your case has been priority. Of course, Alex’s insistence added fuel to the fire, but - ”
“You’re talking in circles, Tommy. What is it?”
A heavy sigh and glance up at Liz, her face stiff as though she’d petrified in the minutes since they gathered in the living room. Alex passed through the door and Tommy moved forward inches on the cushions. A man ready to get up and run.
“Alex. Great to see you, man.”
“Hi, Tommy. What’s happening?”
Something inside cracked, and Cami felt her face redden. “Will everyone can the niceties? Tommy, whatever it is, I’d prefer to know, so quit stalling.”
Alex’s shadows engulfed Cami as he moved to sit next to her, blocking the sunlight from shining through the window. He didn’t touch her. While she knew he didn’t know what Tommy was about to say – how could he? – everything about his presence screamed of readiness.
Tommy rubbed the corner of his chin, clenched his hands again, grimaced and shifted his feet. “Cami, we’ll be having a couple of deputies arriving soon to arrest Tank Grendolt.”
Her eyebrows shot upward, jaw dropped. “Tank? He did all this? That’s impossible. He’s one of my best.” I screened him, did a background check. It came up clear. “I don’t understand. He checked out.”
Alex reached for a hand, Tommy didn’t look from his hands. “Some records were hidden. You wouldn’t have found them unless you had me or someone else at the precinct look into it.”
Her brows furrowed. “I don’t … I don’t understand. How can records be hidden? I paid for the background check.”He didn’t answer and heat faded to an intense chill. “Tommy?”
“He was working for someone else, Cami.”
“Who? Paul Schotter?”
Tommy shook his head. “No. Paul never had anything to do with any of this. I told you that at the beginning, and sure enough, he checked out just fine.”
Something sunk in her gut. She had been so sure. She had been wrong. “If not Paul …”
“Your parents, Cami.”
He spat out the words so quickly, she wasn’t altogether sure she’d heard him right. Reality shifted into a heated waves and she began to sway. Alex’s arms wrapped around her shoulders, body pressing against her side, crushing Cami against his chest.
She closed her eyes, willing the room to stop spinning. She heard Tommy wrong. She had to. Not family. Not her parents.
Alex spoke, voice far away. “Tommy, you have to be mistaken. There’s no way …”
“I’m sorry, but, we’ve looked at everything. Your father privately contracted Tank, he was a client of your father’s some time ago. Minor stuff, nothing overly impressive. But, he took to your dad. I don’t know how much you all know about Tank, but he had a rough childhood, no father, not even much of a mother. Your dad took an active interest in him, and Tank, well, like I said, he really took to your dad.”
The room shifted in and out of waving hazes, and Cami couldn’t speak. Her parents. The people who raised her, helped her when sick, kissed cuts and taught her how to ride a bike. Hurt her like this? Her stomach turned.
Alex asked, “But how does that tie her parents to …”
“We found the payments, and, another man, Corey Fletchum – he’s not a part of it, but was the first to be approached – already came forward. Your dad, he was supposed to pay him some money, never did, and that ticked Corey off.”
That’s got to be it. It makes more sense than my parents … “Then Corey could be framing my parents, even Tank. It’s possible, isn’t it, Tommy?”
He shook his head and stood, walked to the television. “I’m sorry, Cami. So sorry. We checked out Corey’s story when he came to us – it checks out. Your mother and father, you know they’ve never liked the sanctuary.”
Sadie laid a long nose against Cami’s legs and whimpered. Her hand landed on the dog’s head, unmoving, the fur warm. The dog. The tigers. Predictability without betrayal.
Alex’s voice echoed in his chest beneath her ear. “That’s a long ways from threats and killing the tigers. Isn’t that a federal crime? They are an endangered species.”
Tommy took a moment to answer, tone distant as he said, “Yes, it is. I’m afraid Feds will be showing up here, most likely tomorrow. Cami doesn’t have anything to worry about, all her paperwork is in order. But, there will be charges filed against her parents as well.” He cleared his throat. “I’m going there after I leave here.”
She opened her eyes, pushed away from Alex and stood, swaying a bit on her feet. “I’m going too.”
Alex grabbed her hand. “No, you’re not.”
She spun on him. “Just try and stop me.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Cami stood on the front porch of the Lockhart home, heart in her throat as anger gurgled in her stomach and fleshed her face. They couldn’t have done what Tommy said. He was a fantastic cop, and even better friend, but even he could be wrong. Despite their craziness, her parents wouldn’t do anything so cruel. Not her parents. They wouldn’t hurt her like that. Tank wasn’t family, not even a friend. She clenched a fist. Unforgivable, but not like family destroying everything she’d worked so hard for.
A shaking finger rang the doorbell.
Georgette opened the door, bright smile dimming as she took in the group of three people. Alex stood behind Cami, a tentative hand hovering around her waist, barely touching the cotton fabric of her shirt. Tommy stood to the side and front of her, only his shoulder blocking Cami. Georgette’s eyes bounced from one face to another, settled on her with a trace of fear in her eyes. “What happened, Cami? What’s wrong?”
“Are my parents here, Georgette?”
The maid nodded. “Yes, your father is in his study, your mother upstairs in the sewing room.”
She stepped around Tommy and into the house, her escorts following close behind. The foyer, oak and marble, screamed of success. And for the first time, looked like a façade. She sucked in her cheeks. “Thank you, Georgette. Can you please let my mother know we’re h
ere? We’ll be with Dad.”
She nodded again, gaze uneasily focused on the men. “Of course. Of course, I will.” She turned towards the sweeping stairs, stopped and turned around. “I know it’s none of my business, but sweetie, I’ve watched you grow up and the look on your face … is everything okay?”
Cami shook her head. “Nothing for you to worry about, Georgette.”
The maid nodded, every fine line on her forehead and around her eyes testifying disbelief, then turned to head up the winding staircase.
Cami faced the men, voice shallow, deeper. Hardened. “This way.”
Despite years of training, she opened the door to the study without knocking. Thomas Lockhart looked up quickly from a cherry oak desk blanketed by papers, pen gripped tight in his right hand, face open with shock.
“Cami. This is a surprise to see you here today, nice, but I’m afraid I’m busy.”
She ignored the dismissal, glowering at him. “This is more important, Dad. Whatever you’re doing will have to wait.”
“Excuse me, young lady?”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m five years old, Dad.”
“Don’t talk to your father like an insolent child.” Mr. Lockhart dropped his eyes, focusing again on the work before him. “Now, Cami. Take your friends and wait in the living room for your mother. I’m sure she’ll be down …”
Tommy stepped past her, hand low and flattened before her. “Mr. Lockhart, I’m sorry, but this isn’t a social visit. I’m afraid this is official – "
“Cami! What a wonderful surprise. Come, let’s go in the kitchen. I can get you and – "
Cami’s father held a hand in the air. “Wait, Abigail, Tom was saying something. What is it, Tom?”
“This is official police business. We need to talk.”
“Oh, well, then, Cami, Alex – it’s nice to see you, hon – why don’t you come with me so Tom and your father can talk?” Mrs. Lockhart gestured outside the room. “You know your dad doesn’t like his business being interrupted.”