Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 115: The Predator's Shadow

Whatever was said on the other end of the line caused the gloom to vanish from Jack’s face, replaced by a flash of predatory glee. "Is that so? Then I’ll leave it in your hands. Contact me the moment you hear anything."

After hanging up, Jack took a sip of his coffee. The hand holding the mug trembled with adrenaline.

"Simon, oh Simon... it’s all thanks to you letting that big fish go."

Jack’s lips curled into a confident smirk. "And now, he’s about to bite my bait."

Being backed by a powerhouse like the Summers family gave Jack a natural advantage in investigations. For a major case, he could mobilize thousands of hired professionals to comb through surveillance footage or conduct door-to-door inquiries—a scale of manpower that even the city’s central department couldn't dream of matching.

More importantly, he could tap into resources beyond the reach of ordinary people. He could pull global port surveillance through the family’s shipping partners, give his private labs priority for forensic testing, and utilize multinational corporate databases for facial recognition.

What took others three days of paperwork to get—like bank statements—he could acquire with a single phone call.

Jack didn't care if people called it "cheating." As long as he closed the case and caught the suspect, he didn't mind being labeled a pay-to-win player. After all, some doors could only be opened with the Summers family key.

The following morning.

The early sun filtered through the windows of the animal enclosure, casting golden beams through the air. Nancy was kneeling in a pile of hay, her arm wrapped around the lead alpaca’s neck as she prepared an injection.

The alpaca leader, who had once led the great prison break from the petting zoo, had recently asked Nancy for help picking a new name. He had settled on "Fluffy."

Nancy propped her phone up in front of Fluffy, playing a cartoon where an alpaca was the star. Fluffy watched with rapt attention.

"Good boy, it’ll be over in just a second," Nancy cooed, quietly bringing the syringe closer.

Fluffy’s big, round eyes blinked, his long lashes fluttering like tiny fans. He had no idea what was coming. The moment the needle touched his skin, the little alpaca stiffened, his neck snapping back. "Awoo—!"

He let out a whimper like a puppy that had stepped on a thorn. But Fluffy didn't try to break free. Instead, he buried his head in Nancy’s lap, nuzzling into her white coat while his four slender legs remained as stiff as forks stuck in the ground.

A cockatiel watching from a nearby perch flapped its wings and began heckling. "Oh you little crybaby! Are you gonna cry over a needle?" It puffed out its warm yellow tail feathers, mocking him relentlessly.

Fluffy snapped his head up and spat a glob of grass toward the bird. But because of the injection, his aim was off. He missed the bird entirely. Seeing his failure to hit the villainous cockatiel, Fluffy rested his chin on Nancy’s shoulder, letting out a pitiful, rumbling trill.

Nancy stifled a laugh and rubbed his fluffy head. "Our Fluffy is the bravest boy, isn't he? You led a whole jailbreak once!" How had the once-arrogant leader become such a softie?

She popped a slice of apple into his mouth. The alpaca immediately began crunching away, his round tail wagging happily as he forgot all about the pain.

Nancy was so overcome by the cuteness that she buried her face in Fluffy’s wool, inhaling the scent of sun-warmed hay. "Help, how can you be this adorable?!"

She suddenly looked at the cockatiel, her face turning mock-serious. "In light of a certain bird publicly mocking a patient, I hereby decree that today’s bird biscuits are confiscated!"

She gave Fluffy a secret wink. The cockatiel’s feathers ruffled in shock. It hopped frantically on its perch. "I'm innocent! That only warrants the confiscation of half of my snacks, right?"

Fluffy kept his head tucked into Nancy’s neck, a victorious smirk playing on his lips. Hmph. A mere bird thinks it can laugh at me?

Just then, Master Crow arrived. "Ms. Nancy! The little water snake followed the man who escaped! He’s tracked him to a village!"

Nancy tensed up. "Is the snake hurt?"

Master Crow said, "No way! With me around, no one would dare lay a finger on my underlings!"

The cockatiel had been a fan of Master Crow ever since he first scouted them for the zoo. Seeing him now, the natural red patches on its cheeks seemed to flush even deeper. It instantly dropped its rowdy attitude and became quiet and demure.

Master Crow noticed the adoring gaze and puffed out his chest. "If anyone would even dare defy me, they'll face the wrath of my brother! My brother is a legend!"

Nancy’s curiosity piqued. "Your brother is an eagle, right? Who's your other brother then?"

Master Crow spread his wings wide in an exaggerated gesture. "He's a huge owl!"

Nancy packed her medical gear. "Let’s go pick up the snake and see what’s going on." She smiled at the crow. "Lead the way!"

Master Crow replied, "Let's go! I'm not flying this time. I'm tired. I'm getting in the car!"

Nancy dialed Simon’s number, her voice low but brimming with excitement. "We’ve found where the suspect from last night is hiding!"