Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 320: The Scapegoat

The kid was still deathly afraid, his hand white-knuckled around a snake about half a meter long. It was a dull grayish-brown with dark, irregular blotches. "We didn't know what it was, so we just grabbed the damn thing and brought it!"

Nancy’s heart tightened. Her eyes stayed locked on the snake in the boy’s grip.

His logic made sense. If you don't know what bit you, bringing the culprit to the hospital is the fastest way for doctors to find the right anti-venom. But in the middle of the shouting, Nancy heard the dying snake let out a faint, thready wail.

"I’m being framed. I’m just a blunt-tailed two-headed snake passing through. I'm not even venomous. He’s choking the life out of me. Won't someone help?"

Nancy was startled by it.

A blunt-tailed two-headed snake? Those are harmless. The victim’s purple face and gasping breath hadn't come from this creature. The real killer is still out there.

The boy holding the snake was wearing a jacket and a bucket hat. He looked young, with an obsidian stud in his left ear. He had the unmistakable look of a rich brat. The man on the gurney was clearly his father. Based on their gear, they’d been out fishing when the accident happened.

The crowd in the lobby was eating it up. "That’s brave, catching a venomous snake barehanded like that."

"You don't see kids with that kind of head on their shoulders anymore. Knowing to bring the snake in for ID is smart."

Nancy pushed through the onlookers. "Wait! The patient wasn't bitten by that snake. It’s not venomous!"

The second she spoke, the snake in the boy’s hand started squirming like it had just seen a savior.

"Oh my god! Finally, someone who gets it!" It jerked its head toward Nancy as much as it could. "I saw that man digging for worms on the hill. He sneezed in a patch of tall grass and only took two steps before he started shaking and went down. Ugh..."

The boy’s grip tightened even more, cutting the snake off.

"Give me the snake!" Nancy snapped, stepping forward. "You're killing it!"

"So what if I am?" the boy shot back.

His name was Jeremy McKinley. He’d been basking in the praise from the crowd, and having Nancy call him out in public turned his face sour instantly. "Who the hell are you? You’re not a doctor. Get lost."

He was arrogant and looking for a fight. "Do you have any idea who’s on that stretcher? If you delay my father’s treatment, you’ll be the one paying for it."

A female doctor arrived with her team just then. She looked calm and strictly professional. She took one look at the snake in the boy’s hand and didn't hesitate. "The girl is right. That’s a blunt-tailed two-headed snake. It's harmless. It didn't cause those symptoms."

Jeremy’s face turned a deep, embarrassed red. He stammered, unable to find an answer, and settled for glaring at Nancy with pure hatred.

The doctor didn't waste time. She signaled the nurses to wheel the patient into the trauma bay.

Jeremy stood there, his skin burning with shame. He shot Nancy a vicious look. "So you know a few things. Who cares? Even if it wasn't this snake, it’s not like you can save him."

Nancy didn't look at him. She was focused on the snake, which was barely hanging on. She didn't have time for a pissing contest. She held out her hand. "Give it to me. Now. I’m an animal communicator. I already know exactly what actually took your father down."

"What kind of bullshit is that?" Jeremy yelled, his temper flaring. "If you actually know, I’ll get on my knees right here and now!"

He looked her up and down with a sneer. "What are you trying to pull? I’ve seen plenty of girls try weird stunts just to get the McKinley family’s attention."

Losing face in front of the crowd had made him mean. He threw the snake straight at Nancy with a violent shove. "Fine! Take it! Keep playing pretend!"

The crowd gasped. Jorgan instinctively moved to block the throw.

Jeremy wore a cruel smirk. He was waiting for the girl to scream and scramble away. Nancy didn't flinch. She reached out and caught the snake with both hands, her movements precise and steady.

She remained perfectly calm. She looked down and stroked the cold scales with her thumb to settle the creature. Her voice was barely a whisper. "Don't worry. You're okay now."

Jeremy’s eyes went wide. His expression darkened. He was convinced she only had nerves that steady because she was desperate for his attention.