Page 51 of A Malicious Menagerie
“You care, Anna,” Ciara continues, her voice trembling with her conviction. “You’ve cared since the beginning. You even sewed up Fionn’s arm when he slipped and fell on the rocks.”
“Whoa, now,” Fionn interrupts, looking mildly offended. “That wasa secret.”
“Hush,” Ciara says again. Such a little sister. Ignoring him, she continues, “You barely knew him, and even knowing what we are, you put yourself at risk to help him. And you’ve advocated for us. So, yes, you are my friend, even if I was too scared that you might be too good to be true to trust you.”
“Hey,” Colby interjects, no doubt sensing that he’s become the villain in this conversation.
“Decide what you want, Colby,” Ciara replies acerbically. “If you decide to save your own hide, I understand. But I will help Anna. I will fight for my freedom, with or without you.” With that, Ciara gives a toss of her glossy dark hair, turns on her heel, and stalks back into the trees.
“What she said,” Fionn tacks on, amused, before following after his sister.
“Goddammit,” Colby growls, running a hand down his face before turning to scowl at me. “Look what you did.”
I shrug. “I agree with Ciara. I won’t blame you for opting out. I ask that you don’t tell Mathis, but beyond that, I won’t ask you for anything you’re not willing to give. But if you want Ciara the way I want Chase… You’ll help me.”
“You’re putting me in an impossible position,” he says desperately.
“What do you want more: the status quo or Ciara?” That draws him up short. He opens his mouth to reply, but I raise one hand to quiet him. “Don’t answer now. Think about it. Here.” I pull a note card with my phone number from my pocket. I was anticipating something like this response from him.
Colby takes it with a scowl. “What, you’ve got business cards now?”
“Just call me when you decide,” I snip back.
With nothing more to say, I walk away, leaving an irate Colby to stare out at the still pond as if its depths are a crystal ball that might hold some answers.
* * *
I have the next two days off, and waiting to hear from Colby with nothing else to occupy my thoughts is excruciating. I try to reason with myself that he has to have the same come-to-Jesus talk with himself that I did. I warn myself that I might just be asking too much. And I hope that I didn’t make aterrible mistake revealing my traitorous thoughts to someone who might rat me out to Mathis.
By the time I’ve bitten all my nails down to the quick and concocted a dozen doomed plans to rescue Chase myself, my phone finally rings. I get so few calls, especially now that Rebecca is happy and there are no more late fees, so I know who the unknown number is immediately.
“Hello?”
“Anna.” Colby’s voice is gruff. “I’m in.”
25
The Organization
The second step in my plan to liberate Chase and the other residents is to get Nan out of Sunny Shores.
Which is how I find myself at the retirement home’s empty front desk my next morning off, tapping my toe while I wait for someone to notice I’m here and assist me. I shouldn’t be so impatient, but ever since I overheard Mathis and Radha’s conversation, I’ve felt the threat to Chase hanging over my head like a guillotine blade.
Finally, a middle-aged woman with graying brown hair and a frazzled expression exits the door to the office behind the desk. “Yes? Can I help you?”
“Good morning,” I reply with a cheerful smile.More flies with honey…“My name is Anna Carmichael. My grandmother Darla Paulson is a resident here.”
“Ah, yes, I know Darla,” the woman replies, lowering her considerable bulk into her sagging desk chair with a sigh. Now that she’s closer, I can see that she has a name tag that reads ‘Gloria.’ “Such a sweet woman.”
“I think so,” I agree. “There has been a… change in my circumstances, and I’d actually like to pull her from Sunny Shores and take her home.”
Gloria freezes, a half-empty cup of tea frozen partway to her lips. “Take her home?” the receptionist repeats as if the words are foreign.
“To her house,” I explain slowly, wondering what has the woman looking so bug-eyed. “To live with me. I have a new job, and I canafford to get her home care now.”
“Well, isn’t that… well.” Gloria pushes back her chair and stands again with an audiblecreakthat might come from her knees. “I’ll be right back.”
Mystified by the woman’s reaction, I hover by the desk as she disappears back into the office at twice the speed she left it. Well, that was a little… ominous. Is something wrong with Nan?
