Page 23 of Property of Zombie

When I don’t respond, he lets his arm fall to his side. He takes a deep breath and asks, “Have you ever heard of the Kings of Anarchy MC?”

Mental whiplash anyone?

“I…” Pressing my lips together, my eyes fall to the patches on his cut. I hadn’t bothered to read them before, but I do now. One reads ‘Kings of Anarchy MC’, and another says ‘Vice President’. There’s a third one curved under the bottom of the club logo that says ‘Washington’. Of course, I’ve heard of the club before. One doesn’t live in Tacoma and not know who they are. It just never occurred to me that he was a member. “Yes, I have.”

“Good. That makes this a little easier.”

“What?”

Seemingly no longer worried that I’m going to kick him out, he turns and begins to pace. “My club has made donations to the zoo over the years. Large donations.” As he speaks, he doesn’t meet my eyes. In fact, he keeps his gaze trained on the floor as he walks back and forth, back and forth. “In exchange for our support, Dr. Binks provided us with necessities.”

My eyes narrow. “What necessities?”

He thrusts a hand through his hair, but still, he doesn’t look at me. “Things we need to conduct club business.”

The thoughts running through my brain are like the little silver balls in a pinball machine, bouncing off one synapse only to be flung against another. Not a single thought ricocheting around is a good one.

“What could he possibly have provided that the club needs to conduct business?” I ask. “And what the hell business do you have that requires veterinary services?”

Zombie stops pacing to level his gaze on mine, and his vacant stare has my stomach bottoming out.

“I can’t answer that.”