CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“Has he seen them yet?” smirked Ruby. Irene laughed, shaking her head.
“Not yet, but he will. I couldn’t leave ‘em in that place,” she said, chuckling. “I mean, we got the lion. Tigers can’t be much different, can they?”
“Irene Robicheaux, you know as well as I do that tigers are different than lions. What did Claire say?”
“Well, she says that they’re in good shape for bein’ so old. They got some marks on ‘em, probably from an electric probe. I’d like to string them boys up by their necks for treatin’ them fine animals the way they did.”
“They seem to like swimmin’ in the bayou,” laughed Ruby.
“Yep, yep, they do. Alvin says they’re fine swimmers and like the freedom. He said they won’t go far. They’re enjoyin’ the regular meals too much.”
“So, we got lions, tigers, giraffes, had them bears, a hippo family, let’s see…”
“Flamingos,” smirked Irene.
“Flamingos? I ain’t seen no flamingos,” said Ruby.
“They’ll be here tomorrow. Ten of ‘em,” laughed Irene. “I just love their colors. They’ll do well with the peacocks we got comin’.”
“Irene, you are determined to give your son a stroke,” cackled Ruby, shaking her head.
“No, I just want to keep him on his toes and make him grateful for all we got. How is Barry doin’?”
Barry, Ruby’s youngest grandson, had helped them with a case a few months before. A recovering drug addict and alcoholic, he’d moved on to a good life and had never been happier.
“He’s doin’ fine, Irene. That young woman he met is perfect for him. You were right.”
“We were right,” said Irene, patting her friend’s hand. “What do you say you and me do a girls’ afternoon at the pond?”
“Well, now. That sounds just fine,” said Ruby, standing beside her. “Maybe we should take a bottle of wine with us.”
“Now you’re talkin’.”