AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The older man piped in. “Allen said he tripped on his shoelace and told you to stop. Instead, you kept going. Your desire to impress the media took precedence over safety protocols, and that concerns me.”
Jax’s eyes narrowed.Tripped over his shoelace?
“I didn’t hear him say anything, Director Davis,” Seyla protested, crossing her arms.
“So he lied?” the large, bulky woman snapped, eyes glinting at Seyla.
The director lifted his hand. “Calm down, Janet.” His focus flicked back to Seyla. “Regardless, you didn’t follow protocol. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to write you up. I’m sorry, but it is crucial for the employees and the animals that we strictly adhere to these protocols. That’s how we prevent accidents like this. Especially with the media not ten feet away,” he added, shaking his head.
Jax stepped forward. “I’m not sure ‘accident’ is the right word for what happened.” The words flew from his mouth, the desire to defend Seyla a shock even to him. But this group was morphing into a lynch mob rather than people who should be thankful she’d survived.
The director eyed him. “Who are you?”
Seyla moved closer to Jax. “This is Jax, a… family friend.”
The director raised an eyebrow. “Of course, it was an accident. No one here has any malicious intent. Our first priority is the animals. Our people wouldn’t endanger them for a ridiculous vendetta.”
“Travis Yoder was here earlier,” Jax suggested. “Is it possible that he placed that block under the door?”
“Impossible,” the director stated.
“He does have the same kennel system at his ranch,” Seyla suggested.
The director pinched his lip, then rubbed a finger back and forth over it and said, “I don’t know. I don’t see how Travis could have done that, but if he shows his face here again, call the police. Until I see further proof, though, we’re calling this an accident. That’s the end of it.” Grabbing his cell phone, the director dialed a number. “Ada, you can send the news team to the enclosure. Janet will be there to conduct the interview.”
Seyla’s mouth fell open. “But—”
He held up a hand. “You get yourself together and think through what happened, along with ways to prevent it in the future.” The director addressed the woman named Janet, who’d donned a snarky smile. “Janet, run through Seyla’s notes and go meet them.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “I expect you to conduct yourself with the utmost professionalism. Do not mention what happened. Credit the new enrichment program initiatives to Seyla and apologize for the fact that she’s sick and therefore unable to give the interview herself.”
Janet nodded, her eyes shining with glee. “Of course, Director Davis.” She hustled down the hallway.
A director willing to lie to the public. Interesting.
Jessa, who’d been quiet during the whole exchange, finally spoke up. “Sir, Seyla worked nonstop on this program. I think it’s a bit harsh not to let her introduce it to the media.”
The director shrugged his shoulders. He zeroed in on Seyla. “I know how much you’ve done to turn this place around, Seyla. We were all affected by what happened to Hannah, and I think our progress stalled until you came along. I appreciate how much you’ve done, but the fact remains—you skirted the protocol. That comes with consequences. For you and for the rest of us, including the animals, if something happens. I can’t ignore that.”
Seyla’s eyes glittered with a suspicious amount of moisture.
Jax’s chest tightened at the devastation gripping her features.
“I understand, sir.”
Jessa squeezed her friend’s shoulder.
So Seyla had one friend in this mix. Not much, considering what she was up against. “Do you guys not have tranquilizer guns?” Jax asked. “Why couldn’t you sedate the cat?”
Jessa shook her head. “It can take anywhere from fifteen to forty-five minutes for the tranquilizer to take effect. That’s not an option in an urgent situation where there’s a risk of imminent danger.”
“In that case, I think you guys had better make a few new protocols. The sanctuary has serious safety issues. Somebody’s gonna get hurt if extra precautions aren’t put in place.” Jax eyed the director. “Accident…or not.”
The director pursed his lips and crossed his arms.
Sudden shouting down the hallway had the entire group twisting in that direction, followed by Ada’s voice on the intercom system.
“Code blue! Code blue! Fox kit found on the side of the road. Critical condition.”
A rolling gurney equipped with supplies appeared. A tall blond-haired woman in scrubs rushed through the hall with a bundle in her arms. The director and Chase stepped aside. Jax followed their lead. Several people converged on the tiny bundle on the gurney.
