Page 84 of Sanctuary of Secrets

Jax’s shoulders drooped. “I’m pretty sure she wants nothing to do with me after our argument today. It ended badly.”

“Apologize. If she’s a decent person, she’ll eventually forgive you. If not, it’s not your problem anymore.”

Jax thought for a minute before he nodded. “I’ll try.” He rubbed the back of his head, thankful it had stopped hurting. His shoulder, while still bothering him, had become only a minor annoyance at this point. “I went to the sheriff’s office today. He let me examine the notes again that Seyla gave him.”

“Why? Do you have a lead?”

Jax recognized the excitement vibrating through Uncle Sam’s voice. The man still loved to solve a crime, despite his official retirement. “No. Something’s nagging at me, though. Something familiar, but it’s just beyond reach.”

“Want me to go with you tomorrow to help analyze them? I bet we can piece it together between the two of us. It’d be great to see the guys again, too.”

It was more than help his uncle offered. It was a question. And the answer? A resounding “yes”. Nothing would change in their relationship because his uncle had Jax’s best interest in mind. His lie had caused damage. But his actions, however misguided, came from a place of love for a scared young boy. Jax set a hand on his uncle’s shoulder and squeezed it. “I could use your help. Thanks.” He paused, then added, “For everything.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Seyla was a wreck waiting for the end of the day to come.

The entire time they’d sat at The Trusty Tavern, Travis Yoder’s favorite hangout, she’d worried Jessa would find the note she tucked in her friend’s purse.

Jessa had been visibly uncomfortable the entire time they sat in the dank, cellar-like atmosphere. Neither one had touched their food.

The familiar clanking of Travis’s keys, though, followed by a crunch signifying he’d captured them in his hand, had pushed Seyla forward. After finding a seat nearby, she’d talked as loud as possible regarding her plans to stay late at the sanctuary.

His keys ceased their jingling, a sure sign he’d heard her.

She mentioned it a few more times before making an excuse to leave. Jessa popped to her feet so fast she knocked her chair backward onto the floor. Seyla grabbed the table to keep it from falling over while Jessa righted the chair, and they hurried out the front door after paying the bill.

Her friend would have objected to what she planned to do. She couldn’t involve her. It was too dangerous. However, she did place a note detailing the plan in Jessa’s purse, hoping she wouldn’t find it until tomorrow. In case things went wrong. Seyla gulped at the implication of that thought.

Now she could only sit at her desk, waiting, unable to concentrate on anything else. The air thickened as people left for the day, one by one. Seyla wandered to the lobby to mention to Ada and Janet that she planned to stay late after verifying thatthe email she sent to the employees and volunteers had gone through. Afterward, she returned to her desk again. To wait.

Her dread intensified during her walk to visit the newer animals’ enclosures and check on them. A few minutes until eight o’clock, according to her phone. Most of the volunteers had already left. Soon it would only be her. Or her and…someone.

Seyla stopped at the enclosure for Aslar, an underweight cougar rescued from a neglectful owner the week prior.

The large golden-haired cat pounced and bit at a large gourd stuffed with liverwurst. He followed that with splashing through a wading pool to circle around the enclosure on his way to attack the gourd again. The cowering and trembling were already gone, replaced by a joy for life she envied now that she faced the potential loss of her own.

The cat had already gained weight, though not enough to reach his goal weight of two hundred pounds. A big-boned male cat, he’d be well over the average male weight of one hundred forty pounds.

A smile surfaced, despite the fear inundating her. There was so much joy in finding ways to give happiness to these beautiful creatures.

Was this a small glimpse of how God felt about humans?

She wondered if Aslar had already found the star anise-scented areas they’d planted.

The volunteers had a blast using squirt guns to spray the star anise or vanilla and olive oil mix in different places inside the animals’ enclosures. She’d turned the scent-marking of the enclosures into a daily party for them. They enjoyed it as much as the animals did.

Would all of this be lost after tonight?

She had one chance to save this place that brought so many people and animals joy.

Could she do it?

Would this be the last time she saw Aslar?

Her smile died with the memories of the events that had happened in the last few weeks. Beyond salvation, was she ready if she lost her life tonight? While prepared to give her life if necessary for both the people and the animals counting on her for safety, she didn’t want to leave anything unsettled. Jax came to mind, although he wouldn’t want to hear from her. Plus, he’d argue with her and tell Matt. Matt would go to her parents, and they’d find a way to prevent her from going through with this. And her plan was the only way left to get to the truth. The only way to forever stop whoever kept sabotaging this place and hurting people. It didn’t stop fear from clogging her throat, however.

It’s the only way.No turning back.

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