“He’d never let us on the property,” Blake said. “But we could have Mason send a drone over it.”
Their teenage volunteer at the park was obsessed with his drones. “That’s a great idea,” Paradise said.
Drew pulled a notepad from his shirt pocket and scribbled in it. “You remember anyone else who lived nearby?”
“Doris Martinez lived next door to us. I don’t know where she is now though.”
Jenna came through the doorway, her dark brown bob tousled and her blue eyes sleepy. “Doris lives at an independent-living place in Pelican Harbor. I didn’t remember she was your neighbor, Paradise. And I know her well. We can all go visit her when we can. And interrogate me. Maybe I’ll remember something I’ve forgotten.” Jenna yawned. “But not tonight. I heard you all talking and was afraid I was missing something. Seven will arrive before we know it. You should all go to bed. Coffee at midnight is a terrible idea.”
But the aroma was more than Paradise could resist. “We’ll quiet down so you can sleep. The boys will be crawling in bed with you before you know it.”
“I won’t get much sleep on the sofa anyway,” Blake said.
Paradise was sleeping with Levi tonight, and he tended to sprawl crossways. She was wired enough not to sleep even without coffee. In spite of the close call tonight, she had hope they might get to the bottom of all this.
Blake raised the pot in his hand toward the governor’s aide, Angela Burns, seated on the sofa in the park’s reception room. “Coffee?”
She’d arrived promptly at nine in a short-sleeved navy dress with sensible pumps. He knew she was in her mid-fifties, but she looked younger and her arms were toned and muscular. Her soft white hair accentuated her angular features and youthful skin. She must have gone gray early.
Angela crossed her ankles and smiled. “I’d love some, thank you.” Her shrewd blue eyes narrowed on Paradise, who carried a plate of brownies toward her. “I’m glad you could join us, Ms. Alden. I didn’t get a chance to talk to you last time, but the governor is very interested in your role here at the park.”
Paradise set the brownies on the coffee table in front of the sofa and took a seat in a chair opposite the governor’s aide. “I wastrained in exotic animal veterinary science, and I’m privileged to take care of the many animals here at the refuge.”
Angela reached for her cup of coffee and thanked Blake. “I hear you’re originally from this area and returned after many years away. Where did you live?”
“In Nova Cambridge, four miles away across the Kate Norris Bridge. I left when I was fifteen.”
Blake caught Paradise’s haunted expression. “She’s been a terrific asset. She knows so much about all the animals, from the lemurs to the snakes.”
Angela shuddered. “I abhor snakes. A run-in with a copperhead is what finally drove me inside to the gym instead of running along trails. Terrible creatures.”
Paradise shot Blake a smile of thanks. “Most people hate snakes. I find the boas fascinating.”
“I’ll let you deal with them.”
Blake glanced at his watch. “When would Governor George like to come to The Sanctuary, and what does she want to do while here?”
Burns smiled. “Keeping us on topic, I see. We’d like to come in two weeks. The governor would like to have a special tour with the tigers with details about their majesty and strength. We’ll have media here to record the animals in the background while she talks about her determination to fight for high-paying jobs and adequate housing in Alabama. Since her first visit, supporters have been calling her ‘the Tigress.’ Seeing the big cats in their natural habitats will enhance her messages about fighting for constituents. She’s happy about the exposure her ad will give to the park, but even though her presence will lift up The Sanctuary, she’s donating a hundred thousand dollars to the park and will present that check while the reporters are here.”
Blake exchanged an excited glance with Paradise. “That’s very generous, and we’re happy to assist the governor.”
Burns took a final sip of her coffee and rose to gather her handbag. “I’ll let Governor George know. She and I will arrive with the crew at 8:00 a.m., and we plan to begin shooting at nine. We’ll start with video of the big cats in their dens or whatever you call where they sleep. That will be used for clips about housing. I think we should be done by lunch or a little after.”
Blake walked her to the door and opened it. “Thank you again, Ms. Burns.” He shut the door behind her and did a fist pump before picking up Paradise and twirling her in his arms. “A hundred grand! We can expand some of the habitats. I’d especially like to enlarge the range for the big cats.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. “I can’t believe how quickly things have changed. A month ago we were in danger of losing everything, even ownership and what you and your mom invested. God is good.”
“He’s good all the time, even when things look bleak. Even if we lost it all, he’s still good.” He set her back on the ground and kissed her, lingering over the softness of her lips and the sweet scent of her breath. “Someone sneaked a brownie when no one was looking,” he teased. “I think this is cause for a celebration and I’ll have one myself.”
He kept possession of her hand, and they walked to the plate of brownies where he snagged the largest piece. He ate the sweet chocolate reward with thankfulness welling in his chest. It was like Paradise had said—their circumstances had changed so quickly it almost gave him whiplash.
Paradise reached for her coffee. “I liked Angela. She seemed genuinely engrossed in what we do here. I wonder if her initial interest is what led the governor to come here in the first place.Had she ever visited before she brought Governor George here?”
“She looked familiar, so maybe she came with her family. I should have asked her. People tell people who tell people, and the cycle continues.”
The door opened and his mother entered. “How’d it go?”
He grinned at the hopefulness in her voice. “The governor is going to use the park as a backdrop for some of her new campaign ads. They’re calling her ‘the Tigress’ now.” He held up his hand when his mother clapped her hands. “That’s not all. She’s donating a hundred thousand dollars to the park!”
