Four
1450 Words
Even though the agency covered accreditations nation-wide, The Menagerie was only an hour drive away from my apartment. I tried my best to look professional. I wore black slacks and a green blazer over an ivory tank top. With my red hair slicked back and my sunglasses perched atop my nose, I felt like a total bad ass.
I freshened up my red lipstick and pinned my badge to the lapel of the blazer before I got out of my car.
The parking lot was crowded, I thought, for a Friday afternoon in the summertime. I would have expected the park to be this busy on a weekend, but not a week day.
I approached the gate after a long walk and wiped the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand. Maybe the blazer wasn’t the best idea. I just wanted to look professional. I surely looked like a sweaty mess instead.
The entrance looked standard enough. There was a large sign with two cartoon lions on either side. Between the lions were the words, The Menagerie.
Kids ran and played through sprinklers that had been set up in the cement just before the admission gate.
I looked around and didn’t see an office door anywhere. Unsure of what to do next, and afraid to call Nick to ask, I got in line and waited my turn.
After several minutes, I was finally at a teller’s window.
The teller, who was probably no older than eighteen, looked at me dispassionately. It was almost like she didn’t see me at all.
“How many today?” she sighed.
“Um, actually,” I pointed at my badge. “I need to speak to the person in charge. I need to check out a few things today.”
“Please wait over there.” She pointed to a shady spot near the exit of the gift shop.
I heard her call for the someone on her walkie talkie as I moved toward the area she’d indicated.
After a few minutes, a man pushed his way through a door that had been painted the same obnoxious green as the side of the building. When it swung closed behind him, the door was flush with the wall and there was no handle in sight. No wonder I didn’t see it before.
The man sauntered his way through the crowd, never taking his eyes off me. He was tall, lean, and his pressed shirt strained to cover the muscles on this arms. He pushed his hand back through his dark hair and smiled. I squirmed a little under his gaze.
He held out his hand. I pressed my hand in his to shake it. Instead he pulled my hand up toward his mouth, took a deep inhale through his nose and kissed the back of my hand.
“What a pleasure, uh—” he looked at my badge. “Beth. I am Niaz. Welcome to The Menagerie.”
He released my hand to gesture around him.
“Yes, I’m Beth Foster and I’m with the—”
“There’s no need for that. You’re not our usual guest from the AZA. Is Nick ill?”
He had yet to take his gaze from my face. I wanted to hide and I wanted him to look away or blink. Or something.
“No. I’m his intern. Listen, we received a complaint concerning the welfare of some of the animals here. Can I please speak to whoever is in charge?” I sensed a quaver in my voice. I hoped he didn’t notice.
“In charge? My dear, I am the sole owner of The Menagerie. This is my facility and I can assure you that the animals here are well-cared for.” He paused to look at the office. He seemed to tense a little as he looked around. When he turned his intense gaze back at me, he smiled.
“Didn’t Nick tell you what kind of place this is?”
Nick hadn’t mentioned that he usually followed up at The Menagerie.
“I—uh—no. He didn’t. But, actually, he said that most complaints are usually unfounded.”
“Ah, good. Then you can see why this visit is completely unnecessary?” He put his hand on the small of my back and tried to steer me back toward the parking lot. I planted my feet and resisted. He was forced to move his hand and stop pushing or he’d knock me over.
I smiled and hoped that he didn’t notice the quiver in my lip. My hands shook so I stuck them in the pocket of my blazer so he wouldn’t see my nerves. I needed to get him to allow me inside.
“Since I’m an intern, I’d really appreciate taking a look around. Just to be sure.”
I smiled the sweetest smile I could muster.
His eyes narrowed but he maintained a professional smile on his face.
“Of course. Please, allow me to show you around.”
He placed his hand on my back again and lead me inside the park. This time, I allowed him to guide me through the crowd. Once we were past gates, I stepped sideways out of his reach.
“So, Beth was it? Have you ever been to my beautiful facility?”
“No, I haven’t.”
I looked around as we walked and snapped pictures.
“The Menagerie has the most variety in the state. We house everything from lizards to elephants and everything in-between. Every animal gets special care and attention to its needs including nutrition, safe enclosures, and socialization. I’m sure that you’ll find everything is in order and meets the guidelines.”
Everything did look clean. As we walked, I took pictures of the different animal enclosures. The peacocks strutted about, showing off their colorful plumage. The flamingos were the perfect shade of pink and honked loudly at one another.
The elephants had a large enclosure that was clean and they wandered in groups from one point to another. The lions and tigers lounged under the sun, seemingly unbothered by the children running and shouting in front of the glass barrier.
Nothing looked out of place.
“Can you please show me your medical facilities? And if also need to see the animal are areas that aren’t public.”
“But of course,” his voice was thick with charm.
He led me through a small trail off the main footpath and around a barricade. We walked through the stables. They were all clean and empty.
The medical facilities for the animals were clean, as well. I waved to the veterinarian on duty. She smiled and waved. I wondered what it would be like when I was in her shoes, working in a zoo. Would it be everything I hoped it would be?
We left the medical area and walked back toward the front. The sun glinted off something shiny off the path. I noticed another gate behind some shrubs. I don’t remember him taking me back through that area.
“Uh, Niaz, what’s back there?”
“Where?” He looked around.
I pointed at the path and the gate behind the shrubbery. “There. That gate. I don’t think we went back there.”
He chuckled.
“Oh, that?” He pressed his hand on my back once again and urged me to walk forward. “That’s just the trash and junk storage. It has to go somewhere before trash day.” His toothy smile didn't convince me.
“Do you mind if I look?”
He stopped walking to look at me. He looked at his watch.
“Actually, if you don’t mind, Beth, I have another appointment.”
“It’ll just take a moment.”
“No. I really need to get going. Please, I think you have everything you need to address that ridiculous complaint, yes?”
His words rumbled in his chest, like a low growl. The back of my neck prickled and I felt suddenly uneasy. He was definitely hiding something.
I faked a smile.
“You’re right. Thank you for your time, Niaz. It was a pleasure.”
He kissed the back of my hand once more and smiled.
“The pleasure was all mine, truly.”
- Writer
