Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 140: The Silent Witness

Standing nearby, Brendan and his lackeys were delighted by her misfortune, their smirks widening by the second.

"See, Director Roberts! She’s just a total fraud!"

"You should just fire her now. Keeping her here is only delaying the project!"

"Exactly, she’s been causing nothing but trouble all day. Better to replace her sooner rather than later!"

Brendan fanned the flames even harder, eager to see Nancy burn. "Director Roberts, we can't afford these delays. Every day we stall is cold, hard cash down the drain!"

Director Roberts let out a sigh. Maintaining the poise of a seasoned official, he spoke kindly to Nancy. "Young lady, I’ll have the workers keep an eye out for your cat. Just send me a photo. It’s almost dark, and it’s not safe for a girl like you to be out here. Go on home."

Brendan immediately cut in with a haughty, booming voice, making sure everyone heard his mockery. "Did you hear that? Director Roberts told you to beat it! Stop getting in our way!" The lackeys behind him joined in the jeering, their faces twisted into a mask of ridicule.

Nancy’s phone chimed at that exact moment. She looked down at the screen, completely ignoring Brendan’s posturing.

"Don't be so harsh on the youth," Roberts chided Brendan. "She’s fresh out of school and lacks experience. A single failure is normal."

Director Roberts turned back to Brendan with a frown. "What about you? What progress have you made today?"

The arrogant energy from Brendan’s group vanished instantly. They lowered their heads, shrinking back like kicked dogs.

Brendan stammered, his eyes darting around. "Director Roberts, as you can see..."

He tried to shift the blame back onto Nancy. "The whole day was ruined because of her! I ended up wasting half the day at the hospital because of her stunt..."

Roberts furrowed his brow, his patience wearing thin. "Stop making excuses."

"I’m asking when you’ll reach a deal. When can we demolish? We don't pay you to sit around and eat for free."

Just as Brendan was struggling to find an answer and the atmosphere turned awkward, Nancy looked up with a calm, composed smile.

"There's no need for negotiations, Director Roberts."

Roberts looked at her in confusion, while Brendan scowled. "The adults are talking, you little brat. Who gave you permission to butt in?"

Nancy ignored him, her voice clear and steady as she enunciated every word.

"The demolition can start tonight."

Director Roberts froze. "What?"

Brendan burst into a mockery of a laugh, his eyes full of contempt. "Nancy, what kind of tall tale are you spinning now? Do you honestly think you're some kind of miracle worker?"

At that exact moment—

The road behind Nancy was suddenly flooded by several sets of piercing headlights. Then, the shrill wail of sirens tore through the silence of the twilight!

To everyone's utter shock, half a dozen police cruisers roared onto the scene, pulling up in a perfect line behind Nancy. The alternating red and blue emergency lights bathed her slender frame in a halo of authoritative light.

Director Roberts was stunned, his glasses slipping down to the tip of his nose. "The... the police? What on earth is going on?"

Brendan and his gang were equally floored. "Is this a joke? Is she really calling in this many cops just to find a missing cat?!"

A second later, the door of the lead cruiser swung open.

Simon stepped out of the driver's seat with sharp, decisive movements. His thick brows were set low like blades, and his sharp, upward-slanting eyes swept over the scene with the predatory intensity of a hawk.

More strikingly, he held a taut leash in his left hand, at the end of which was a muscular, sleek German Shepherd K-9. The police dog’s eyes were like embers, its ears pricked forward, its body coiled like a loaded spring ready for action.

The presence of the man and the dog silenced the crowd instantly.

Following him, more uniformed officers filed out of the other cruisers, moving with practiced discipline to surround the perimeter of the holdout's house.

Simon strode forward to stand beside his sister. He cast a frigid glance over Brendan’s gaping group before focusing on Director Roberts. His voice was steady and powerful.

"Good evening. Simon, Major Crimes Division, Townsville Headquarters."

Simon held up an investigation warrant, his expression grim. "We have reason to suspect this location is connected to a major criminal case. We need to secure the site for immediate forensic analysis."

"All demolition work is to be suspended until further notice."

The thugs who had been so loud just moments ago looked as if their souls had been sucked out of their bodies. Their faces turned as white as paper.

Brendan’s jaw hung so low it almost hit the ground. His eyes were wide with a look of pure terror. "M-major criminal case?"

The rowdy energy of the demolition crew was crushed instantly by the weight of the sirens and the presence of the law.

Director Roberts was similarly dazed. He had never expected a difficult redevelopment project to turn into a homicide investigation. He shook Simon's hand solemnly before turning to Nancy, his voice filled with disbelief. "This... how did this happen?"

Nancy gently stroked the head of the little weasel in her arms, her expression grave.

"My little animal detective detected the specific scent of human decomposition coming from the concrete walls of this house."