Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 414: The Safest Block in Town

A vivid image flashed through Nancy’s mind. If some idiot tried to start trouble and rolled up their sleeves in front of the taco stand, they would probably be pinned to the ground by three different undercover agents in under a second. The taco lady would be reaching for handcuffs, the barbecue guy would be flashing a badge, and even the taco apprentice would be pulling a body cam out from under his apron.

This was not just a zoo entrance anymore. This was the most dangerous trap in Townsville.

A warm sense of security bubbled up in her chest. Nancy could not help but let a small smile tug at the corners of her mouth. It felt good to be under the wing of the state.

She dialed Simon’s number, her voice light and cheerful. "Simon, I made it back to the zoo safe and sound!"

Simon’s gentle voice came through the line. "Good. I will pick you up for dinner after work. We can get your bags packed for the elite training in Bellwood while we are at it."

As she hung up, a fierce spark of ambition ignited in Nancy’s heart.

This trip to Bellwood was far more than just a competition for the best minds in law enforcement. It was a gathering of the sharpest intellects in the country, brought together to collaborate on cold cases that had remained unsolved for years.

They were going to peel back the layers and shine a light through the fog. They were determined to drag the truth out into the open.

The moment she stepped into the zoo, Nancy sent Master Crow and Snowball to the medical center. The two little guys had gone from snow-capped mountains to scorching deserts. She would not be able to relax until they had a full checkup.

The medical facilities at Loren Zoo were world-class now. Thanks to special grants from the military, the municipality, and national security, the center had expanded into a professional animal healthcare hub.

It was not just standard diagnostics equipped with the latest animal-grade CT and MRI scanners. They had also established a sports medicine center to provide fitness monitoring and injury rehabilitation for the Animal Task Force. Nancy watched the two of them through the glass of the exam room, finally letting out a sigh of relief as the checkup began.

Back at the director’s quarters, a familiar rustle came from the bushes.

"Nancy’s back! Nancy’s back!"

Corry leaped down from a treetop and landed steadily on her shoulder, his little paws gesturing proudly. "While you were gone, a few annoying moths tried to sneak into your room. I chased every single one of them off!"

Just then, a round furball struggled to squeeze out of a tree hollow. It was Bobby.

He had put on so much weight he looked like a plump pinecone. His short little legs were almost invisible.

Nancy could not help but laugh. "My god, Bobby. What happened to you?"

"I am not fat!" Bobby hugged his fluffy tail defensively.

"I am fluffy! Just fluffy!"

Right then, a flash of tabby fur darted out from the flowerbed. Tabby King leaped gracefully onto the stone table, looking down at Bobby with a flick of his tail.

"Hah. If certain squirrels keep eating like this, they are going to get stuck in their own front doors. At that point, we stop calling it fluffy and start calling it spherical."

Nancy covered Bobby’s ears. "Ignore him. That is just bullying."

Tabby King turned to Nancy, his amber eyes shining with delight despite his haughty posture. "So you remembered the way home? I haven't been sitting around all month."

He puffed out his chest with pride. "I took that Leon kid under my wing. We caught over a dozen illegal feeders, eight litterbugs, and one guy trying to climb the fence. I took them all down personally!"

"Wow! Tabby King, you are amazing!"

Nancy’s eyes sparkled as she pulled the arrogant cat into a hug. "You are like the guardian of the zoo! A little champion of justice!"

She rubbed her cheek against his soft fur. "I missed you so much! Did you miss me at all?"

"Miss you? Please." Tabby King turned his head away, though his ears twitched involuntarily. "I am a busy king. I don't have time to miss a biped like you."

Bobby, still perched on a branch, immediately blew his cover. "Liar! Tabby King spent every night napping right in front of your door! He was catching mice for you at midnight! Two days ago, he even hissed a sparrow away just for getting too close to your window!"

"Shut up!" Tabby King hissed in embarrassment and lunged toward the branch. Startled, Bobby scrambled higher, but his round body was far too heavy. His paws slipped, and the squirrel went tumbling through the air like a fuzzy, rolling ball.