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After dropping the boys at the house for their baths, Paradise and Blake found Evan in the lion enclosure cleaning up excrement.

She’d seen him from a distance during her time here, but she hadn’t been close enough to speak since she’d avoided the big

cats as much as possible. After a glance to make sure no lions lurked unseen in the area, she used her key to unlock the gate

and slipped into the enclosure.

When the acrid stench of the big cats hit her nostrils, she froze for a moment. You are not afraid anymore. She would not go back to that fearful, cowering person.

Blake touched her hand. “You okay?”

She nodded. “I’m fine.” She tipped up her chin, then strode toward Evan. “Hi there, Evan.”

He turned into the sun to face them, and his eyes widened when he spotted her. “Paradise, I heard what happened with Isaac

yesterday. Good thing you were there.”

New lines had fanned around his brown eyes since she’d seen him last. He was a little taller than her, maybe five-ten, and his stocky build was all muscle and no fat. She caught the glint of a wedding ring on his left hand. His open, friendly face drained her animosity. Had she been wrong all these years, or was he just good at hiding his true nature?

She felt a crawling sensation up her back and knew it was her desire to be away from that smell of lions. “I’m very thankful

the little guy is okay. We wanted to chat about the missing key situation.”

His smile vanished. “I’m so sorry.” He directed his apology to Blake. “The thought of what might have happened makes me want

to throw up. I’m usually very careful with my key, but I had a sick kid at home, and my wife had just called with an update

while I was unlocking the door.”

“Is your little girl all right?” Blake asked.

Evan nodded. “It was appendicitis and she had surgery, which is why I took some vacation time. She’s right as rain now though,

bouncing around the house and driving Honey crazy. Any clue who took my key? I was sure someone would have turned it in.”

“We haven’t found it,” Blake said. “And with the incident in the tiger enclosure, it’s a very ominous sign. I think I probably

need to change the locks.”

“Good idea.” Evan’s gaze went back to her. “Um, this might not be the right time to say anything, Paradise, but I found a

plastic tub of things in the attic recently. It had Alden on a piece of tape on the lid. I was cleaning things because we’re going to put up drywall and make it into a play area for

the kids. There was a panel to an area over the porch, and I backed out the screws and opened it up. The tub had been shoved

in there.”

“Did you open it?”

“I glanced through it. There was an old jewelry box, some letters, and a baby book as well as some clothing. I thought you might want it.”

“I would, thank you.” Myriad questions flooded her mind—mostly, why was it hidden?

“You’ll be interested in seeing what we’ve done with the place. You won’t recognize it. I put in a new kitchen and opened

up the wall between the living and dining rooms. We found good hardwood under the carpets too. I’d love to show it to you.”

He hesitated. “Unless coming back would be too painful for you.” He paused, looking her in the eyes. “I don’t have a clear

memory of breaking into your house when you were a kid, but I know I scared you. It’s bugged me over the years, and I want

to apologize again.”

So plausible. Too plausible? “Thank you. I’d love to see the house. Could I have a tour when I pick up the box?”

“You bet. How’s Saturday? The kids are home, so it might be chaotic, but I’m off work. It gets dark so early, I didn’t think

after work would be a great time to see everything.”

“I like kids. What time is good?”

“How about nine?”

“Perfect. We’ll be back to the park before things get hectic. Thanks so much.”

The cat stench made her eyes water, and she backed out of the enclosure, then took in a deep breath of fresh air.

Blake thanked Evan and followed her. “That smell got to you, didn’t it? Your eyes were watering.”

“Maybe I’m not completely over my phobia of big cats.”

“You’re a good seventy-five percent better.”

He took her hand as they walked back toward the house, and she let him. The warm press of his fingers brought comfort. “Why would my parents hide a tub like that? It didn’t sound like anything important.”

“You haven’t seen it yet, so it’s hard to say what might be in there. You’ll want to go through all the clothing pockets and

examine everything. Did it bother you to talk to Evan?”

“A little, but he wasn’t as suspicious as I remember. He seems like a really nice guy. A family man.”

“I’ve always liked him.”

She stopped a few feet from the house. “You’re not a good judge of people. You took me in and cared about me when you shouldn’t

have.”

“Of course I should have. I didn’t have any trouble seeing past that tough-girl exterior. You only think you hide your feelings

well. A trained interrogator like me busts right through your defenses.” He grinned, but his eyes were serious. “You have

to let go of feeling like you’re inferior to other people. You have so many gifts and special qualities.”

Part of her wanted to hear what he thought, but she wanted to wait until they had time to talk about the future. This conversation

could spin into a deeply personal direction that might make her tell him how she felt. And neither of them was ready for that.

***

On Wednesday after work, Blake went in search of Paradise and found her at the capybara habitat. The giant guinea pigs had a placid pool to enjoy and lots of room to meander around and climb on the rocks. Their habitat was a park favorite. He stood and watched Paradise return Hazel to her family after she’d been injured in a fall from a rock. The other family members chirped, whistled, and purred to welcome Hazel home as she lumbered out of the crate and onto the grass undulating through the area.

Paradise had tamed her hair in a bun that revealed the sweet curve of her neck and shoulders. The day was warm for late January,

and she wore a sleeveless top that showed her shapely arms. Blake couldn’t get enough of drinking her in.

She turned and caught him staring, and a flush spread across her cheeks. Her right hand strayed to the scars on her left forearm.

“Where’d you come from?”

“I was looking for you.” He grinned and reached out to snag the pin anchoring her bun and watched as her hair tumbled to her

shoulders. “There’s my Simba.”

Her smile emerged. “You haven’t called me that since I got here. I thought you’d forgotten.”

“I was afraid of being smacked, but I couldn’t help myself. Hey, I had a great idea. We should talk to Mrs. Steerforth.”

“She’s still around here?” She wound her hair back up and secured it in place.

He nodded. “After her husband was killed, she bought a place out on Fort Morgan Road. I’d like to find out if she felt threatened

at all or if anyone tried to buy them out. I called to ask if I could stop by with a box of things I found in one of the sheds—a

bunch of old children’s books. Anyway, she told me to come by. Want to come with me?”

“I’d love to.” She walked with him toward the parking lot and paused to wash her hands at the spigot attached to the gift

shop. “She and her husband were always very kind to me. It will be good to tell her how sorry I am for her loss.”

They resumed walking toward the truck. “She was badly mauled by that tiger. I hope that’s not too upsetting for you.”

Her fingers crept again to her left shoulder. “I’ll be fine.”

On the way south to the Gulf, Blake thought about asking Paradise on a real date, then tabled the idea. Their unspoken agreement

to keep things casual until The Sanctuary was out of danger put the brakes on that possibility.

Traffic was light, and when they reached the address along the Gulf side of the peninsula, Mrs. Steerforth’s porch and yard

lights welcomed them.

She lived one house back from the beach, and the tranquil turquoise house sat on stilts in case of storm surge. Blake guessed

it had been built about the time they moved away from The Sanctuary. He got the box of books from the back of the truck and

followed Paradise up the steps to the back deck and entry door.

The door opened before he could knock, and Mary Steerforth stood holding it open for them. “Blake, so nice of you to bring

the books.” Her gaze went over his shoulder, and her brown eyes widened. “And Paradise? I didn’t know you’d come back to the

area.” She stepped out onto the deck and opened her arms to embrace Paradise.

Mary was in her sixties but seemed older with the scars on her face and arms. Blake had to work at not glancing away from

the damage left by the tiger. “Where do you want these?”

Mary released Paradise and limped to a deck chair. “Oh, just set them down anywhere. I’ll probably take them to the used bookstore.

I only had you bring them because I was lonely. I don’t get much company these days. People wince when they see me.” She touched

her scar and glanced at Blake. “You did a good job of not showing any distaste.”

“You’ve always been beautiful, Mary.” And in spite of her scars, she was. Her lovely spirit shone through in her eyes and

smile.

Mary gestured to the Adirondack chairs on either side of her. “Have a seat, kids, and tell me all about how The Sanctuary is doing. I don’t get much news out here. Most of these places are rented by tourists, and they don’t know any good scuttlebutt.”

Paradise pulled a chair closer to Mary and perched on its white wooden slats. “I came on as vet and fill-in keeper wherever

I’m needed. Jenna and Blake are doing a great job out there.” She touched her shoulder. “You’re not the only one scarred by

a big cat, Mary. A black jaguar nailed me.”

Mary’s face softened. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. Are you afraid now?”

“I was, but I’m getting much better. I’m so sorry to hear about Allen.”

“They killed him, you know. I suspect Hank was killed too, wasn’t he?”

Blake gaped, then recovered his composure. “We have suspected his death wasn’t an accident, but we’ve had no proof so we let

it go. Who killed Allen? You think he was run off the road?”

“He was drugged. His blood showed a high methamphetamine level, and he hated drugs with a passion. Our only child died of a drug overdose, and he would rather be tortured than do any kind of drug. But

of course no one listened to me, and I sit out here stewing about the lack of justice. I have to leave it in God’s hands though.

His justice is the best kind anyway.”

“Who do you suspect?” Blake asked.

“Frank Ellis. He tried to buy the property, and when he couldn’t, he killed Allen and planned to swoop in at the auction.

But his funding got messed up, and your family slipped in before he could square it away. I’m sure he’s ready to remedy that

situation.”

“We’ve suspected he might have something to do with the attacks at The Sanctuary too.” Blake listed the different incidents.

Mary’s expression grew more somber. “You kids will have to be on your guard. I don’t know why he’s so desperate to have it—there

are other tracts of land for his subdivision, but he seems determined to acquire it.”

And Blake was equally determined to prevent that acquisition.