Page 31 of Mother Clucker

I glanced past him. “You think shutting that will give us privacy? They probably have better microphones than the NSA. Fuck, they probably have cameras hidden in here too.”

Drew waited silently for me to get my rant out. The man knew me too well.

Finally I said, “They brought up the dog food from China.”

He cringed. “I’m sorry.”

“That didn’t even happen on my watch. It was one employee making a really bad decision when no one was looking because my father was sick.”

“I know that.”

“But we’re never going to live it down. Just when the press was starting to die down. Just when I had some real hopes of cleaning up Strickland’s tarnished image, you signed on for this fucking reality show.”

Drew pressed his lips together. “I never even considered this might happen. And I should have. I’ll go tell them it’s off.”

I appreciated the offer, even if it wouldn’t do any good. “You can’t. You signed a contract.”

“So let them sue me.”

I laughed. “Nice offer but I need you up and running, not bankrupt from a lawsuit. Strickland needs your chickens.”

“And you need a friend,” he said.

“I’ve got a friend. A good one.” I drew in a breath, calmer but not keen on being here right now. “I just, I can’t be here for this. Not while they’re all here.”

“They’re wrapping up today. Tonight the latest. I asked. They said they should have plenty of footage after the two days. It’s only for a twenty-minute teaser.”

That would be good, having the crew gone. But I was still wondering why I was sticking around.

For Heather, who wasn’t even here?

For Rowdy? Drew would keep him safe.

And my business with Anna was settled. The truck of dog and cat food was scheduled to be delivered sometime today. The check from accounting had been cut.

I had no reason to stay. Except that I really didn’t want to leave.

“Why don’t you go head out for the day. Go visit the shelter. Or hell, hit the beach. I’ll text you when they’re all gone. Then you come back and we drink to it all being over.”

“All right.” I could decide when I was leaving later.

A knock on the bedroom door had me regretting the decision.

Drew pulled it open. “Yes?”

“Uh, we, uh, can’t find the rooster.”

My eyes flew wide. “What?”

“He was like there one minute and then gone the next.”

“Mother fucker.” I pushed past the young guy and headed for the front door.

Could this day get any worse?

Out in the yard I spotted Heather’s car and I had my answer. Yes, it could definitely get worse because now I got to tell the woman I’d lost her bird.

Fuck.

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