CHAPTER EIGHT
Blake couldn’t believe how late it was. Used to waking before the sun rose, she knew the moment she woke that she wasn’t in her own cottage. For a moment there was a sense of panic but it took her only seconds to close her eyes and take a deep breath.
Then the memories flooded her brain. He’d been so kind, not just at dinner but the entire evening. She remembered him speaking to her on the porch, then the drowsiness took over.
The cottage was silent as she stepped out of the room. On the counter was a note.
Didn’t want to wake you. Take your time and join us for breakfast.
She smiled at the note and left the cottage going back to her own to shower and change. By the time she arrived at the cafeteria it was packed with people enjoying their morning meal.
Zane immediately looked up to admire the beauty coming through the door. She wore a pale green sundress, her long red hair, still damp from her shower was curling down her back. The big blue eyes stared right at him with a smile that lit up the room.
“Will you join us?” he asked walking toward her.
“I’d love to. And Zane? Thank you for last night. I can’t remember when I’ve had such a great sleep.”
“It was my pleasure.”
The tables were lined with the team headed to the animal sanctuary. Sniff, Lucy, Violet, Striker, Claire, King, Caroline, along with Luke and Gaspar.
“We’re going to get you familiar with all the animals today,” said Gaspar. “As I’m sure you’ve realized, this is an unusual place, Blake. Luke and I were gifted the unique ability to speak with the animals and hear them as well.”
She looked at the faces hoping this wasn’t some sort of cruel joke, then she turned to Zane. His face was sincere, no hint of amusement or cruelty to be found anywhere. She swallowed with some guilt and nodded.
“But. But how can this happen? I mean, I get feelings when I’m working with animals but I don’t speak to them,” she said softly. “I mean, I do. Out loud like a crazy person where no one else can hear me.”
“You’re not a crazy person and if you are, so are all of us. Besides, feelings are a way of speaking with them,” said Gaspar. “My mother has, uh had, the greatest ability of anyone I’ve ever known. I used to make fun of it, make fun of her when she would tell me something the animals knew.”
“Oh, great,” muttered Luke looking up from the table. Blake followed his gaze to a beautiful, elderly woman with snow white hair and the most amazing whiskey-colored eyes.
“You can’t let ‘em appreciate the gifts too late in life. It makes ‘em strange,” she chuckled.
“Wh-who is that? What is that?” whispered Blake.
“Best to rip it off like a bandage,” smirked Irene. “Tell her all of it.”
“Blake, this land has been owned by my family for centuries. It holds great mystery and magic that we will never understand,” said Luke. “One of those great gifts is the ability to speak to animals but also to speak to ghosts. See them, help them, or in many cases, they’re helping us.”
She stared at him then back at Irene. Then she turned to look at the faces around her. She was skeptical but how could you argue with what was in front of you?
“I know it’s a lot to take in but no one on this property will harm you. Man or animal,” said Gaspar. “But we need to be certain that you can keep this secret. No one must know what we have here.”
“I-I don’t share secrets, ever and I don’t even know where ‘here’ is other than it’s in Louisiana,” stuttered Blake.
“I believe you. I don’t know why I believe you but I do.
There was always something magical about this place.
When I was delivering the food I could feel this strange vibration coming from the animals.
I just thought it was their sounds melded together. ”
“It’s more likely that they were trying to speak to you in their own way,” said Luke. “Are you alright? Do you have any questions?”
“I’m fine. I think I’m fine. Questions? I have a million but I’d rather figure it out as we go if that’s okay.”
“That’s fine,” said Gaspar. “All of the animals have names but there are a few that have beefs with one another. It’s always interesting to hear why they’re angry with one another.”
“I bet,” she nodded, still uncertain of what she should say or do. “I guess the best way to do this is just to jump in.”
“I agree,” smiled Zane.
“Before you go,” said Ham walking to the table.
“We just got some information on the Cerberus. It’s not the name of a ship but it is the name of a cartel based out of Argentina.
They’ve slowly been rising up the ranks of the wanted on the FBI and Homeland’s lists. Drugs, weapons, and lately chemicals.”
“Cartel? Why would they be selling animal food?” asked Blake.
“I don’t think that’s what they were doing,” said Ham with a small smirk.
“It was their cover. I think Tom’s business was small and local.
No one would really think anything of someone else taking over but they realized they needed someone that knew about feed.
You just happened to arrive at exactly the right time. ”
“Lucky me,” frowned Blake.
“I think the deliveries they were getting while you were out were the product or products that was coming in illegally. Those were what they were really worried about.”
“I’m not following. Are you saying they were dealing in illegal drugs, not the pet supplies and feed?”
“That’s what we’re saying,” said Cowboy. “I’m sure they went to great effort to hide it from you. Maybe there were locked parts of the building or the storage shed out back.”
“Yes. Yes, of course but I thought it was just business stuff, maybe the cash they were bringing in.”
“Did you ever see customers that didn’t appear to be there for animal food?” asked Ham.
“Only once. I mean, I think only once. The guy said he was there to pick up an order and I asked his name. He said Smith and I couldn’t find the order for it. I asked what kind of animal he had and he laughed at me and said it was a monkey.”
“Monkey is a term that addicts often use to describe the drug that’s on their back, holding them back,” said Cowboy.
“Eddie came in and slapped me across the face. He told me to go to the back that I didn’t know what I was talking about. I tried to tell him we didn’t carry monkey feed and he laughed at me again. I didn’t understand.”
“There wouldn’t have been a reason for you to understand,” said Zane. “Drugs were not in your world. Yet.”
“That’s true but why here?” she said waving her arm. “I mean, not here, here, but why in this part of the country? I always think about drugs being in places like New York or Los Angeles, not New Orleans.”
“It’s a good question,” said Ham. “Think about it. New Orleans is a major port where drugs could come in and out easily. We have access to trains, planes, and major terminal bus routes. From here, they could transport west through Texas or east to Florida, then up the coast.”
“I never thought of any of that,” she said quietly. Gator nodded at her.
“Because you’re not a drug lord.”