Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Sydney
I’m still pissed when I get to work the next morning. I know it mostly has to do with the fact that I’m horny for Tucker, who still won’t give me what I need.
“What crawled up your keister today?” Lydia jokes as I’m pouring coffee into my mug.
“Your husband ruined my night.”
“I heard. My attorney is getting paperwork together today. He’ll be served tomorrow morning and will also be informed that the children are being kept away for their safety.” She sighs as she leans against the counter.
“I never expected him to be like this,” I say.
“He’s changed so much in the last couple years. I didn’t tell you, but ever since he got the job with Kant Holding International, he’s been more aggressive and demanding. He’s also been less present. At first, I blamed it on the fact the job is based in Dallas, and he was having to travel so much.”
“Why didn’t you move?” I ask the obvious question.
“I didn’t want to give up my job. This is my dream position working here, and he said he would only have to travel every couple of weeks. Then it turned into him being gone for weeks at a time or even a month. I should have known he was cheating on me.”
“You couldn’t know.” I try to make her feel better.
“But the crazy thing is I did know. He didn’t want to have sex with me anymore.”
“Hello, ladies.” A deep voice comes from the entrance to the breakroom. “Sorry to interrupt. I’m looking for Dr. Rorke,” the tall good-looking man in a state police uniform says.
“That’s me,” Lydia says.
“I’m Sergeant Whitlock. I was told to seek you out. I have a brown bear cub in the back of my truck.”
“What?” we both exclaim, and he chuckles at us.
“I don’t stutter, ladies. By the way, not meaning to eavesdrop, but you were talking fairly loudly.” His eyes roam up and down Lydia’s body. “Any man who turns you down isn’t a real man.” With those words, he turns and walks out, leaving us both stunned.
“Um, did he just say that to me?”
“Yes, he did.” I laugh.
“Okay, before I forget, and the reason I came down here, the Zimbabwe Elephant Rescue is here today. They are meeting with the president of the board right now. They want to follow you and the team around today to talk about elephant conservation, but they want to talk to you mostly about the rhino exhibit.”
“Okay. I’m around, but I’ll be busy.” I hope I’m too busy to talk to them.
“Are you coming or not?” Sergeant Whitlock steps back into the room.
This time I check him out. He could be the perfect distraction for my bestie.
He’s tall, and his uniform fits him in all the right places.
His hair is dark, cut close to his scalp, and he’s got a bit of a scruffy beard.
But it’s his piercing light green eyes, locked on Lydia as she stares him down, that are the sexiest.
“Excuse me, I was giving her an update for the day. I’ll be with you in a moment. If you are in such a rush, I’m fairly sure the vets would be able to help you.”
“I was told you are a bear expert, and I’ve decided I like pissing you off.” He chuckles, his eyes moving up and down her body again.
I can’t hold in the guffaw at his words and get to work. Yep, he’s going to be perfect for my girl. She needs a man who will fight for her, and with her.
“And this is Sydney Parrish. She’s our rhino and elephant expert,” I hear the president of the zoo association say. “She was once in your lovely country doing management and filming, from what I understand.”
I turn to see him walking up the boardwalk toward me, where I’m doing some point training with Umi.
Behind him are a few faces I recognize from Zimbabwe.
I met with them a few times for a couple of assignments in Botswana.
When they see me, their eyes flare wide, and I understand.
After the court case was settled, their government went with the rumor that I died during surgery.
I move over to them and hold out my hand. “Hello again.”
Abasi pulls me into his arms and greets me with kisses on each cheek. “They told us you died,” he says.
“I know. It was to protect me from the Brigade,” I clarify for him.
“Retaliation?” he asks, and I nod. “The zoo must be happy to have someone with your knowledge.”
“We are very excited to have her on staff.” The president laughs.
For a few hours, we work with Umi, and then I show them to our elephant exhibit, where we just had a calf born.
I learn their conservation center is in danger of losing funding, and they’ve struggled with poachers getting onto the property a few times.
It brings back the memories of my last assignment, and I try to push them down, not willing to go through that all here now.
“Sydney, because of their funding issues, I told them we would have a meeting with the press so we can maybe set up some local charities to help.” The president’s voice breaks through my thoughts, and my body locks up.
“I can’t do that, but I’m sure Abasi would be amazing at it.”
“No. I heard him say you went up against poachers. It’s the perfect angle, and I insist,” he says, leaving no room for argument.
“Maybe she’s right.” Abasi tries to help, knowing the danger I’d be in if the Brigade were to find out I survived.
“She’s far enough away, and we don’t have to mention which raid she was a part of.” The president tries again. He has no clue what he’s asking me to do or the danger I’ll truly be in.
I can’t lose my job. I won’t lose my job.
“I won’t talk about that assignment. You can ask me about conservation here and talk to Abasi about their efforts back in Zimbabwe, but that’s all I’ll talk about.
I insist.” I hold firm to my decision and pray that if this gets back to South Africa and Botswana, no one who could cause me issues sees it.
A couple of hours later, I watch as news reporters stand around the podium the president has set up in the main part of the African exhibit.
He steps up and introduces the Zimbabwe Elephant Rescue team and talks about our zoo working with them on conservation.
How they will train some of our zookeepers on handling the elephants.
And we will show them our techniques. How it’s an exchange of information on these endangered animals.
“One of our zoologists doesn’t need help in training because she was a part of several conservation and study groups in and around Africa, even in Zimbabwe and Botswana.
I’d like to introduce the newest member of our African mammal team, Sydney Parrish.
” He waves his arm to me. “She helped at the risk of her own life against poachers.”
I whip my head toward him. I told him I wouldn’t talk about that.
I asked him not to mention it, but he still did it.
I look over at Lydia, who is standing off to the side with a huge smile on her face.
She has no clue about the bomb he just dropped.
The president nudges me, and I clue back in as a reporter asks me a question.
“Ms. Parrish, how exactly did you put yourself in danger?”
“Every zoologist and scientist in the field puts themselves in danger. It’s part of the job in trying to rescue and protect animals around the world.” I give a generic answer.
“Didn’t Abasi say you were with a group that was attacked?” The president of the zoo board offers up that tidbit, and again I’m stunned into silence.
I shake my head, not willing to open my mouth and give any details.
“I have to get back to Umi. Thank you, and please help Abasi and his team with protecting elephants. Don’t buy ivory.” I turn and walk away.
I barely make it through the door into the breakroom before the tremors set in. My hands come to rest on a chair, and I start shaking. I pull out my phone, needing to call my mom and the attorneys. Everyone needs to know what just happened.
“Why didn’t you answer their questions? I didn’t know you were attacked?” Lydia’s voice comes from behind me.
I try to compose myself before turning to face her.
“Lydia, I gave you my credentials and my resume. That’s all of my past I can talk about.
You need to understand that what just happened out there could jeopardize Mari’s and my lives.
” I grit my teeth. “I told the president I wouldn’t answer any questions about that assignment.
I also told him I was against being on camera. ”
“Ms. Parrish, you can go home for the rest of the day.” The president appears in the doorway. “Unpaid. Next time, don’t embarrass me in front of the press.”
“Sir, I can’t discuss that incident, and I told you that before you went out there.”
“That’s unacceptable. You have the rest of the week off.” He turns and walks out. I look at Lydia, who rolls her eyes.
“I’ll take care of it and be in touch,” she says.
I grab my bag and head out to my car to go pick up Mari. Unpaid vacation, awesome.
I dial my mom as soon as I get to the car.
“Hey, angel, how are you today?”
“Not good, Mom. The president of the zoo board just insisted I do a live press conference, then he mentioned the attack. Live! What the hell am I going to do?”
“Dammit, Sydney. I’ll take care of it.”
“I’ve been sent home for the rest of the week in retaliation for not discussing it. I don’t want to lose my job. And I don’t want to expose us.”
“Nashville is a big community. You’ll be safe. I’ll contact the team. You go get Mari and come over here for dinner tonight.”
“Okay.”
I do just that. An hour later I pull up to the large five-bedroom home my mom had built.
I can see Gram’s old farmhouse a little ways away, where Lydia and the kids are staying until she can get a place of her own.
The memories of running around that house with Wrenn and the other girls wash through my mind.