Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 17: The True Rescuers

The crow had gone too far—everyone was stunned, even the seasoned officers.

It flapped back onto Nancy’s shoulder, cawing loudly.

Samson, curious, asked, "What’s it saying now?"

Nancy’s mouth twitched. "It says you’re upright and honorable, Mr. Samson. That you’d never wrongly accuse a good person."

For the first time in his life, Samson was flattered by a bird. His lips twitched as if struggling to hold back a smile.

Jack’s cold voice cut in, shattering the moment. "None of us can understand animal talk. Whatever you say, we just have to take your word for it. If you want to flatter Mr. Samson, at least do it openly, not like this."

The crow had been watching Jack closely. Though greedy, it was loyal to Nancy—and this man had been picking on her all night.

"Director," it said, "I just checked. On the roof of the police vehicle closest to us, there are three dead leaves."

Nancy repeated the words aloud.

Samson immediately sent an officer to confirm. The patrol truck was over two meters tall—impossible for Nancy to see the roof after coming from the basement.

The officer climbed up, then returned, eyes wide. "Mr. Samson, it’s true. There are three dead leaves on top."

The only one who could have spotted them was the crow.

Samson swallowed hard, his gaze shifting to Nancy with shock and a glimmer of awe. "So you really are an animal communicator."

Nancy nodded modestly. "The real deal."

Just then, screeching brakes echoed across the deserted site.

A Maybach rolled to a stop. A middle-aged couple, dripping in jewels and luxury, rushed out.

"Mandolin! Our daughter!"

They ran straight to her.

"I’m fine," Mandolin assured them, hugging her mother tightly.

Her father Jerry clearly knew Jack. His eyes lit up when he spotted him, and he stepped forward eagerly. "Mr. Summers, an honor!"

Jack inclined his head with a practiced smile. "Likewise."

Nancy immediately caught the look. She knew this Jerry must be important—Jack only dropped his aloof act for people weightier than the Summers family itself.

"I heard you’re an expert in solving cases, Mr. Summers. Was it you and the police who saved my daughter today?" Jerry gripped Jack’s hand tightly. "Thank you, Mr. Summers."

Mandolin bristled at once. "Dad! Are you senile?"

She tugged him toward Nancy and Simon. "You thanked the wrong person! It was Nancy who found me in the basement. She called the police.

And my brother Simon—when the killer was ready to carve me up—he smashed the door in, took him down, and cuffed him on the spot. He was incredible!"

Jerry flushed red. So he’d thanked the wrong man? And Jack hadn’t corrected him? He’d just soaked it up?

What an embarrassing mistake.

Jerry turned and bowed his head toward the siblings. "I’m sorry. I was so frantic after six hours with no word from my daughter that I made a fool of myself."

Mary, Mandolin’s mother, grasped Nancy’s hands, tears in her eyes. "Thank you, child. You saved her life."

Without hesitation, she slipped a emerald bracelet from her wrist and forced it onto Nancy’s hand. "I don’t have anything else on me. Please, take this as thanks."

Nancy’s eyes widened at the vivid green gleam. She’d lived long enough in the Summers family to recognize quality—this bangle was worth millions. "This is too much, I can’t possibly—"

She tried to resist, but Mary pressed it firmly onto her arm.

Then Jerry pulled out his checkbook, scrawled a number, and handed Nancy both the check and his card.

Her brain buzzed when she saw the amount—three million.

With that, she could cover medical bills, nutrition costs, even keep the zoo running.

"This is really too much…" she murmured, even as her hand itched to take it.

Jack’s voice cut in sharply. "Simon is an officer of Pondville precinct. His rescue falls under official duty. Such lavish gifts could be considered bribery."

The word "bribery" landed like a hammer.

Nancy froze, her hand retreating from the check. She nearly forgot—anything her brother accepted would be surrendered to the state.

Grinding her teeth, she reluctantly slid the bracelet off her wrist, her heart bleeding at the loss.