“The zoo is closed for the day,” Nadirah replied, dumping her shopping bag onto the table.
“I take it the zoo officials noticed I was missing,” Phoenix surmised.
“They did, but that’s not the reason why the police have the area closed for an investigation. They found a body in the croc pen, and someone murdered all the tigers overnight.”
He gaped in astonishment before blurting out, “Oh shit. I’m so sorry. They must have sent someone else after me.”
Her lips turned down. “So it appears. The poor creatures didn’t stand a chance.”
“And neither will you if I stick around. I’ll leave soon as it’s dark outside,” he offered.
She noticed he’d managed to cobble together an outfit while she was out. Most likely Nenek’s doing, given he wore baggy green shorts and an oversized shirt that resembled something their neighbor Hafiz would wear.
“Why would anyone come looking for a tiger at my house?” she scoffed. “Even if they did, they wouldn’t find one.”
“Just a white dude who shouldn’t be here,” Phoenix pointed out.
Her lips pursed. “You are assuming those sent to kill were aware you could turn from tiger to man, and I don’t believe that to be the case.”
“Even if they don’t know, I don’t want to bring any trouble.”
“No trouble,” Nenek declared, once more brandishing her cooking spoon. “Help harimau make luck good.”
“I don’t know about luck,” Nadirah murmured, “However, I also can’t just toss you out. I told you I’d help.”
“You’re still willing to get me into that museum?”
“You’re not the only one who wants answers.” Her curiosity had been roused, as well as her ire. Someone had dared to harm the animals in her care, so it seemed only fitting she’d aid the one they’d been after in the first place.
They headed out after dark with him holding on to her as they once more took her moped. How odd they must seem, him so large he practically cocooned her entire body, but as she’d stated the day before, such a thing wasn’t uncommon. She also knew where to go, so it made the most sense she drove. However, she did worry about someone spying and following. After all, Phoenix raised a valid point. She was the main tiger keeper. The one who’d been in charge of the feline found on the freighter. If the person who’d done the hiring—who most likely knew Phoenix’s secret—realized the wrong tigers were killed, it stood to reason they might take a closer look at Nadirah. It made her wish now that she’d pushed Nenek harder to go out for the evening. What if someone paid a visit while she was out?
“What’s wrong?” Phoenix asked, leaning in close. “You suddenly got tense.”
“Worried about my grandmother,” she admitted even as she kept driving.
“Maybe we should turn around,” he suggested.
“We’re almost there.” She could see their destination. Maybe she’d called Nenek and suggest she spend the evening with her sister.
“Does this friend of yours know we’re coming?”
“No. But he won’t be hard to find.”
Khalid always answered when she called. He’d been good friends with Nadirah’s father, an American who’d visited Malaysia and fallen in love. When her parents died in a car accident, Khalid had promised to watch over her and to this day, kept that promise. If she asked him for a favor, he’d do everything in his power to give her what she needed.
Nadirah parked her moped in front of the steps going into the museum before pulling out her phone and sending several texts, first to Nenek, suggesting she go out for the night, to which her grandmother replied,Already at my sister’s place.
Nadirah’s next text went to Khalid. She kept it brief.
Hey. Me and a friend need to do some discreet research. Can you help?
In seconds, she had a reply.
Park around back. I’ll meet you by the service door.
They had their way in. Now to hope they found something that helped.
Chapter Five
