Chapter 19 - Lucy
LUCY
By the time Monday rolls around, I’ve completely put Michael out of my mind, and the abrasions from punching Star are scabbed over. My hand is still sore, but I can handle pain.
I spend the morning checking on Mali and her cubs as well as Tuxedo.
They’re all doing well and are cooperative when I administer their meds.
The tiger babies aren’t fans of getting vaccines, but that’s to be expected.
Tuxedo, on the other hand, loves his antibiotics.
Of course, that’s likely because I injected the medicine into his morning herring.
At lunch time, I realize that I left my cell in my truck, so I head out to the parking lot to retrieve it. When I reach my vehicle, I freeze, and my blood boils with rage. Scratched into the black paint are the words ‘U R MINE’.
Once my feet come unglued from the pavement, I yank open the door and snatch my phone off the seat, fully prepared to rip someone a new asshole. I tap the screen to wake it up and see several notifications of texts. I open the app and read through them.
Lion’s Den Fuck: Have a great day, babydoll
Michael Martin: Dinner with me this week?
I roll my eyes. He really doesn’t know how to take a hint. Rather than ignore him, I reply.
Me: No. Please don’t contact me again.
I return to the text thread from Zombie.
Me: Were you at the zoo?
His reply is immediate.
Lion’s Den Fuck: No. Still working on club shit. Why?
I hate that my first thought when seeing the damage to my vehicle was that Zombie did it, but in my defense, he’s continuously told me that exact thing: You’re mine.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I snap a picture of my door and send it to him. Then I follow it up with another text.
Me: That’s why
I jump when my phone rings, but then I see ‘Lion’s Den Fuck’ scroll across the screen and answer the call.
“Hey.”
“What the fuck, Lucy?”
“What?” I ask, my hackles rising.
“Who did that?”
“I don’t know.”
“You thought it was me.”
“I’m sorry, I just…” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You’re always telling me that I’m yours, so…”
“I’m gonna pretend you didn’t just insult me,” he snaps.
“I said I was sorry.”
Zombie heaves a sigh. “You did, and I’m sorry. But fuck, babydoll. I’d never do that, not to you.”
“I know, I know.” And I do know. “I think it might’ve been Michael,” I tell him. “He text me again, asking me to go to dinner.”
“Motherfucker!” he shouts, and I have to pull my cell away from my ear.
“What?”
“I can’t go into specifics,” he says. “But I’ll say this… We’ve been trying to find Michael since last night with no luck. I don’t know if he’s responsible for your truck, and honestly, I’m not convinced he has the balls to pull that off.”
“Maybe he didn’t, but I don’t know who else it’d be.”
“Look, I’ll come pick you up after work,” Zombie says. “Michael might not have been the one to inflict the damage, but I wouldn’t put it past him to get someone to do it for him. He’s clearly unhinged and obsessed with you. Until the club is able to track him down, I don’t want you to be alone.”
“I, um… okay.”
Until this second, I was only angry. Now, I’m scared. And it’s not the good kind of scared, the kind that gives me a euphoric feeling. No, it’s the kind that has my mind racing and the hair on the back of my neck standing on end.
This sucks.
“What time will you be done?” Zombie asks, pulling me back to the conversation.
“Should be about six.”
“I’ll be there at five,” he says. “Call me if you need me, okay?”
“I will.”
We end the call, and another text comes through.
Michael Martin: Bitch
I’m typing out my response when a notification drops down on the top of my screen indicating another incoming message. I quickly hit send.
Me: And you’re blocked.
After blocking Michael’s number, I switch to the new text.
Unknown: U R Mine
My breath hitches, and I turn in circles to scan my surroundings.
Me: Who is this?
Unknown: U R smart… U will figure it out
Me: Why scratch up my truck?
Unknown: Shits and giggles
Me: Seriously?
Unknown: Better get back inside. U R very exposed out in that parking lot
What the actual fuck?
I rush inside, telling myself it’s because my lunch break is over and not fear fueling my actions. Shoving my cell into my back pocket, I make my way to Melanie’s office and knock on the door.
“Come in,” she calls.
I step into her space and hover just inside. “I, um…”
“What’s wrong, Lucy?” Melanie asks with genuine concern. “You look terrified.”
Crossing the room to drop into the chair across from her, I pull out my phone and open the picture I took of my truck. I show her, and she gasps.
“Who did that?”
“That’s the million-dollar question,” I mutter. “Whoever it is, they also text me, and somehow, they knew I was out in the parking lot.”
She leans back in her chair, a worried expression crossing her features. Melanie opens a folder on her desk and hands me the piece of paper on top. “I was hoping not to have to show you this, but I think I have to now.”
I scan the words on the page, and bile rises up my throat. There’s a picture of me printed as the background, and slashes of red crisscross over my face. A butcher knife is drawn over my heart, and the words ‘Dr. Thomas must die’ is scrawled under the image.
“I was just about to take that to the security team,” she says. “I think we should both go so you can show them the picture of your truck and the texts. They need to be kept in the loop so they can protect you here. I’m sure they’ll also want to file a police report.”
Nodding, I numbly get to my feet and follow her to the security building. Evan greets us, and I relax slightly because I know he’ll do whatever he can to help.
“It’s going to be okay, Lucy,” he assures me after all the formalities are complete. “No one will get to you here.”
“And when I’m not here?” I ask.
“Well, the police are aware of the situation,” he says.
“Make sure you’ve always got your cell on you so you can call 911 if you have to.
It’s not ideal, I know, but it’s the best we can do.
I don’t think you’re in any real danger outside of the zoo, otherwise, whoever it is would target you at home or something, right?
Here, you’re surrounded by people, but at home? You’ll be safe.”
“You’re probably right,” I say. “I should, uh, get back to work.”
“I’ll check in with you later,” Evan says. “Just to make sure you’re doing okay.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“Hey, do you want me to have your truck towed to a body shop?” he asks as I stand to leave. “I can give you a ride home.”
“Yeah, that’d be great. But I don’t need a ride,” I say, remembering that Zombie said he’ll be here.
“You sure?”
“I am, thanks. My boyfriend is picking me up.”
Boyfriend?
“Oh. I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.”
“It’s new.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Well, if you change your mind, let me know.”
“Thanks, Ev.”
The rest of the day passes in a blur of activity. It’s all normal and exactly what I need to forget the craziness. I’m so busy with routine animal care that I shut the rest of the world out.
At least until I return to my office and open my email.