CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Dr. Lisa Hartley pulled to a stop in front of the property and steadied herself with a deep breath. She had debated calling ahead rather than arriving in person, but cell phone records were too easily obtained these days and too many eyes were on her and the Council Bluffs Animal Rescue Sanctuary. She needed to handle this problem quickly and quietly.
She sighed and slapped the steering wheel. Damn Marcus for dying when he had. A week later, and this wouldn’t have been an issue. Well, it was always an issue when someone died in your animal sanctuary, but it was an even bigger issue when it happened in the middle of the biggest damned conference in Lisa’s career.
The Four-R Initiative was brilliant. It was going to make her a celebrity. It was going to cement her legacy and take her from small-time zoo owner to big-time animal expert. Lisa was already thinking about broadcast rights, excursions to exotic locations, magazine interviews. Of course, she would write a book. Everything she had ever wanted in life, everything she had worked decades to achieve, was right there in front of her, and it was taken away because of some vindictive moron who wanted to take revenge years later.
And then Sean. Fucking Sean. Sean had to go and suggest that they call the FBI. The police were going to sweep everything under the rug. It might have cost them a jaguar, but so what? They could have played that to their advantage. It could have improved her chances, not hurt them. But Sean had to suggest the FB-fucking-I, and Lisa didn’t really have a choice but to accept because how could she convince people that she cared about animals when she was going to let an innocent jaguar take the heat for a revenge killing.
So what could have been a minor incident instead had people asking questions. If Lisa was the woman she claimed to be, why was the FBI investigating a murder at her zoo? Why was there only one night watchman on duty? Where else was she cutting corners? Were her animals really as well-cared for as she claimed?
That was a problem, or it would be if she didn’t do something about it. The Four-R Initiative actually would help animals. That was the ironic thing. Lisa’s bid for fame would do some real good for the world. But she’d cut some corners to get there. Not all of her food was high quality. Not all of the animals received top-quality—and expensive—medical care. Nothing was terrible , but when all eyes were on you, everything that wasn’t perfect would be picked at and exposed and denounced. People would throw out words like deplorable, appalling, inexcusable. And there would go Lisa’s reputation.
It wasn't fair. She'd tried things the right way, but getting to the top the right way was impossible. The people at the top got there because they were willing to cut corners, make sacrifices, and sometimes hurt people to move forward. That was just nature. The strong thrive, and the weak die. She'd been the weak for a long time. She finally had a chance to be strong and to profit off of that strength, and some dipshit had targeted her security guard of all people and thrown her entire life end over end.
But she had a plan. She would hire Dr. Lawson to visit her zoo and offer suggestions that could improve the lives of their big cats. She would spin the improvements as an exciting new opportunity to even better care for her animals. That way, she would get ahead of any of the bullshit that might come from any of the prying eyes heading her way.
Was it a good plan? Hell no. Was it the only one she had? Just as hell, yes.
And it would be okay. Things would be delayed for a few years, and she would have to spend some money she didn’t have yet, but she had good credit, and she could cut labor costs a little bit. Her employees loved heartfelt speeches. She’d give one about how the animals needed their help, and she had to cut some things like employee benefits or overtime. Those were easy ones to get away with. No one under the age of forty thought about health benefits, and she could make sure that they didn’t ask for more than a few hours a week of overtime from people. Sean could handle all of that.
She took a breath and got out of the car. She plastered a smile on her face and as she walked to the door, it occurred to her that she totally could have just called Dr. Lawson. That was what she got for jumping at shadows and overthinking things.
Well, whatever. She’d just claim that she was so overwhelmed she had to appeal to him in person. That was good press. People liked seeing emotion for a good cause.
She knocked on the door, and it opened to reveal not Dr. Lawson but some man she didn’t recognize. She blinked. “Oh… I’m sorry. Is, uh, Dr. Lawson here?”
The man smiled. “He’s out right now, but he should be back shortly. You’re Dr. Hartley, right? Dr. Lisa Hartley?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Wonderful! Dr. Lawson will be excited to meet you. He talks about you a lot.”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah. He really respects the work you’re doing at the Council Bluffs Animal Rescue Sanctuary. He tells me all the time that you’re going to be the next face of American conservation.”
Lisa felt a flush climb her cheeks. “That’s high praise.”
“He means it, too. He’s a big supporter of the Four-R Initiative.”
Her anxiety and irritation vanished at that. “Oh! I’m glad to hear it. Maybe he can mention something like that to the Ecological Association. Any endorsement helps.”
“I’m sure he’d be delighted. In the meantime, if you’d like to come in and have some coffee, I’ll call him and let him know you’re waiting for him. It shouldn’t be long at all. He’s rarely out long after dark.”
Lisa smiled. “Thank you. That’s very kind, Mr…”
“Merrick,” he replied. “Jason Merrick.”
He held the door open for her, and Lisa walked inside, her hope for the future restored.