Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 284: The Foul-mouthed Witness

Nancy felt a wave of frustration. If the lab results took eighteen hours, she wouldn't have them until tomorrow. Both her designer’s freedom and that massive bonus would sprout wings and fly away.

Relying on Lily to crack under pressure was a gamble. Without hard forensic evidence, a seasoned accomplice could come up with a hundred excuses for wearing gloves while handling a collar. She needed something more definitive.

Nancy pulled off her medical gloves and distractedly stroked the Tabby King’s head while she thought. The stallion of a cat sat still, sensing her focus.

"Penny," Nancy said, looking the Abyssinian in the eye. "When your owner put that collar on you yesterday morning, did he seem uncomfortable? Did he react to anything?"

Penny shook his head. "No. My human spent ages picking through his jewelry chest. He tried a bunch of different collars on me before settling on the pink one."

The cat sighed, sounding exhausted. "Being a fashion model is hard work." Then his voice cracked. "But if my human wakes up, he can make me try on every jewel he owns. I won't complain once."

The Tabby King let out a low groan. Unbelievable. This guy can't stop flexing his wealth even when he's depressed.

Nancy caught the lead immediately. Owen had many collars, and his choice each morning was based on a whim. Since the selection was random, the killer couldn't have poisoned the collar at the house.

That left the pet shop.

During a grooming session, collars are always removed. That was the window of opportunity.

"Penny," Nancy said. "We’re going to the pet shop."

If the tampering happened there, she’d have plenty of potential witnesses to interview.

She knelt down and gave the Tabby King his orders. "Your majesty, please stay here. Talk to the local rats. See if they heard or saw anything unusual around the grounds yesterday."

Even a mansion this grand couldn't escape the local rodent population. With a professional kitchen and lush gardens, it was a rat's paradise. No matter how many exterminators were hired, there were always a few locals lurking in the walls.

The Tabby King’s whiskers flicked with pride. "Gathering intel? That’s my specialty. Leave it to me."

After checking in with Captain Roger, Nancy loaded Penny into the car and drove to the pet shop about five miles away. It was a mid-sized, bustling place filled with dogs and cats getting pampered.

Penny was clearly a regular. He strutted in like he owned the joint, but his composure evaporated the moment he spotted a Sulfur-crested Cockatoo on a professional perch.

Penny froze, his fur bristling as he scrambled behind Nancy’s legs.

"What’s wrong?" Nancy whispered, feeling the cat’s sudden tension.

Penny peeked out from behind her jeans. "That bird belongs to the owner. He’s a loudmouth and a total psycho! He spends all day judging everyone. He critiques everything from a Siamese's coat color to a Golden Retriever's posture."

Penny added, sounding wounded, "I’ve tried to argue with him three times. I haven't won once. His vocabulary is... vivid."

On the perch, the cockatoo stopped cracking sunflower seeds. Its sharp black eyes locked onto them. It spat out a shell and let out a screech.

"Well, well! Look who crawled in! Isn't it our majestic Pharaoh? The Abyssinian superstar?"

The bird bobbed its head mockingly. "What brings you to our humble shop today? You look like a coward hiding behind that human's legs. Pathetic!"

Penny pressed his face against Nancy's leg. "See? I told you!"

Nancy didn't get angry; she smiled. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small, sealed jar of homemade treats. A blend of nuts and grains specifically designed to win over stubborn parrots. She popped the lid, letting the rich, nutty aroma drift through the air.

The cockatoo, mid-insult, suddenly choked on its words. It leaned forward, eyes dilating as it stared at the jar.

Nancy pulled out a single biscuit and waved it slowly. "Want a bite? Apologize to Penny first. Say, I’m sorry, Mr. Cat."

The scent of the biscuit was like an invisible hand pulling at the bird's beak. Its talons shifted restlessly on the perch as it fought a losing battle with its own pride.