Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 49: The Bat's Warning

Norman’s knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. "That monster! Giving a three-year-old sedatives... Coco is only a baby!"

Jack’s voice remained calm and steady, projecting professional authority. "Mr. Norman, please try to stay calm. The bloody footprints are a vital lead. Security footage shows no unauthorized entry through the door, which confirms the killer entered through the window. We are going to cross-reference shoe sizes and physical builds against every guest and staff member on the premises immediately."

With that, Jack and his assistants hurried off to begin the sweep.

Errol watched them go, turning to Ginnie with an approving nod. "Ginnie, your brother is a true professional. Compared to Nancy, who just stands around with no answers, the difference is night and day."

Norman agreed with a solemn nod. "I suppose that’s the difference between a consultant and a specialist. I wonder how our 'consultant' is faring in the garden."

Ginnie lowered her eyes to hide a triumphant glint, casting a fleeting glance toward the backyard.

Meanwhile, the garden was a hive of activity. It looked like a town hall meeting for the local wildlife.

The Squirrel Bros had been busy, rounding up relatives, friends, and even the two sparrows Nancy had met earlier. They crowded around her, chirping and chattering their reports.

"I saw a man in a suit and he climbed to room 306 with a rope!" one grey squirrel squeaked.

"And the woman in 306 was the one who lowered the rope! And the man climbed into the room" a black squirrel added.

Nancy felt a jolt of shock. The killer and the victim knew each other? In fact, she had actively helped him into the room. This wasn't a random burglary or a kidnapping gone wrong. For a split second, Nancy even wondered if Coco was actually a Taven.

"They... they were hugging and kissing by the window for a long time," another squirrel added, covering its eyes with its tiny paws and twitching its tail in embarrassment.

Nancy was touched by the little creature's reaction, but her expression quickly turned grim. "What happened next? Did he take the child?"

"Yes, he climbed down with the child and ran to the hot spring!"

"What did the man look like?" she pressed. "His build? His hair?"

"He had very short hair, the squirrel replied. He was tall—at least a head taller than you, Nancy."

"His face was too dark to see clearly, but his eyes were big and very bright."

The other squirrels shook their heads. "We didn't get a good look of that man either!"

"It’s okay. The most important thing is finding the boy." Nancy gripped her umbrella handle. "Let’s go. To the fountain!"

On her command, a dozen squirrels and the two sparrows fell into line like a tiny army.

"Let's go find the murderer!"

"Do we get snacks if we find the child?"

The older squirrel was sharp. "Quiet, everyone! Don't alert the murderer!"

The animals instantly became stealthy, moving with such exaggerated caution that Nancy couldn't help but smile. The fear of being alone in the dark began to fade, replaced by the warmth of her fluffy allies.

With the squirrels acting as her GPS, Nancy reached the fountain in no time. The water was still, surrounded by a dense, dark forest.

"Let's head into the woods," Nancy whispered, pointing east.

The pine forest was pitch black, devoid of any artificial light. To avoid alerting the killer, Nancy kept her flashlight off, relying entirely on the squirrels to guide her path. Before long, she could see the silhouette of the villa's perimeter wall in the distance.

Suddenly, a heavy thud sounded behind her.

Nancy’s heart leapt into her throat. She froze, her body turning slowly.

In the faint moonlight, she saw a dark, round lump wriggling on the ground. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a bat—though a remarkably portly one. Aside from its wings, it looked like a tiny black pig.

"Ah! My butt! It hurts!"

The chubby bat was currently on its back, legs flailing wildly as it struggled to right itself. It realized Nancy was watching and kicked even harder. "Stop looking at me! It's really embarrassing!

Nancy let out a breath of relief. Finding a bat—even a clumsy one—felt like a good omen in a place like this.

"Do you need some help?" she asked, seeing that the little guy was making no progress.

The bat froze instantly. "Gosh! You can understand me? You heard everything I said earlier?"

Nancy gave a small smile. "There's no shame in falling. Are you hurt? I'm a vet; I can check you over."

The bat shook its head. "I'm fine, my chubby body can absorb the impact when I fall. I'm fine."

Nancy bent down and offered a small twig for it to grab. With a gentle lift, she helped the overweight creature back onto its feet.

The bat looked up at Nancy with tiny, shimmering eyes. "Thanks, lady. You're a good one. Hey, can you cure a case of the munchies?"

Nancy blinked. "The munchies?"

"I'm too heavy", it explained sheepishly. "I was sleeping on a branch and my grip just... gave out."

For a bat, hanging upside down is an energy-saving measure that allows for a quick takeoff, but this little guy had clearly outgrown his own strength.

"I can help you with a diet plan, but—"

Nancy didn't get to finish. The bat’s ears suddenly twitched. "Quiet, lady! Something's moving over there!"