Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 15: The Suspicions

Simon gave Mandolin a slight nod. "Don’t worry. The other officers will be here soon. They’ll probably need you to give a statement."

Mandolin sneaked a glance at Simon, her face flushing red before she quickly looked away. Tugging on Nancy’s sleeve, she whispered, "Wow… your brother’s so handsome! You two look amazing together—such a good-looking pair of siblings."

The crow flew onto Nancy’s shoulder, puffing out its chest proudly, eager to take some credit too.

"Lady, I was the one who saved you! I’m your hero!"

Mandolin tilted her head in confusion at the bird’s cawing. "Nancy, what’s it saying?"

Nancy smiled. "It says it wants some praise too."

Mandolin laughed through her tears.

She had always found crows creepy with their dark feathers, but now—thinking of this one as her savior—she no longer felt afraid. In fact, she even thought it looked rather cute.

"Right, I read online that crows like collecting shiny things. Is that true?"

Nancy nodded. "Yes."

Mandolin unfastened her pearl earring and slipped the ruby pendant from her neck. She held them out toward the crow. "Thank you for saving me. Take these to play with."

Nancy’s eyes widened at the sight of the large, lustrous pearl and the vivid ruby sparkling with fire. Wow. What kind of wealthy family was this girl from?

The crow, a true connoisseur, was just as stunned. Its eyes gleamed as it gingerly hooked its claws around the jewelry, greed practically written across its tiny face.

Nancy couldn’t help but laugh, handing over the remaining hundred-dollars note. "Here, your final payment. I always keep my word."

The crow eagerly tucked the bill beneath its wing, unwilling to miss a single cent.

Just then, a booming voice came from outside the basement.

"You inside! You’re surrounded! Release the hostage immediately!"

Nancy and Simon exchanged a look. "Perfect. The police are here. Let’s bring him out."

…

Outside, SWAT officers had the basement encircled.

Detective captain Samson frowned. "Where’s the caller? The line stayed open but we’ve had no contact."

A SWAT officer reported over the radio. "Mr. Samson, no sign of the one who called it in."

Jack’s face was grim, his tone sharp. "Don’t tell me Nancy, after tasting success catching an A-level fugitive last time, tried chasing the reward again—got too close to the suspect’s hideout, and wound up a hostage herself? Some people will risk anything for money, even when they’re clearly out of their depth."

"She just got lucky last time. A blind cat stumbling on a dead mouse. You think she can keep getting lucky forever?"

Samson’s face hardened. If the suspect had two hostages inside, the situation would be far worse.

At that moment, noise came from the basement door. Every officer tensed.

"Police! The hostage is safe, and the suspect’s in custody!"

Nancy’s voice rang out. She stepped into the light, supporting the shaken Mandolin.

The sight made every officer freeze in shock.

Samson’s eyes nearly bulged. "You again?"

Jack’s disbelief was plain. Nancy had saved the victim? Impossible.

Why her? What gave her that ability?

Then Simon emerged, shoving the handcuffed murderer ahead of him. "Reporting in, Mr. Samson. Here’s the suspect. His weapons are still inside, along with the missing head of the zoo victim."

His voice rang with authority. Samson stared, startled by the sight of him, unsure what to make of it.

He waved for two officers to take the prisoner. "So it was you two again who caught him?"

Jack pushed his metal-rimmed glasses higher, suspicion clouding his gaze.

"Once was luck. Twice? Explain how you found the killer’s hideout. You’re not going to tell me you were his accomplices who turned on him for money, are you?"

Samson’s expression was tight as he too fixed his eyes on the siblings, waiting for their answer.

All eyes focused on them.

Nancy met their stares calmly. "I’m a senior animal communicator. I can understand animals and read their signals."

The Summers family had made its fortune in the pet industry, and though Jack, the eldest, had studied criminology, he had at least heard of such a profession.

But his face twisted with disbelief. "You lived in the Summers family home for over twenty years, and I never once heard you had this so-called gift. Now you’re suddenly a ‘senior animal communicator’?"