Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 54: Behind The Scenes

Norman seemed to recognize the man instantly, drawing in a sharp, horrified breath. "Henry? How is it you?"

Out of respect for the deceased and for Norman’s reputation, Nancy chose not to reveal the true nature of the relationship between Henry and Faye in front of the crowd.

She pulled Simon aside and relayed what her "witnesses," the squirrels, had seen: the man entering Faye’s room and later slipping out with the boy.

Barry gave a subtle tilt of his chin to the head of security. The guards understood the command immediately and began politely escorting the remaining guests and staff back to their private rooms, clearing the hall of onlookers.

Simon flipped through the records provided by the butler. "This man’s name isn't on the guest list. Mr. Neils, you know him?"

"His name is Henry. He’s one of the lowlifes my son calls a friend," Norman said, his face contorted with fury. "Wasn't it enough that you dragged my son into your gambling debts? Now you had to kidnap my grandson too?"

Henry sneered, completely unrepentant. "Your son never treated me like a friend! You Neils have more money than you know what to do with. What’s wrong with giving me a little cut?"

His eyes were bloodshot, and he had clearly crossed the line into madness. "The debt collectors were going to kill me! How could you just sit there and watch me die?"

Norman’s temper flared. "Every cent the Neils family has was earned by my own hands! If you wanted money, that’s one thing—but why did you kill Faye?"

Henry let out a dry, hollow laugh. "You should ask her that. How do you think I managed to sneak into Critters Villa in the first place?"

Norman’s face turned white as a sheet.

"She wouldn't let me take Coco—my golden ticket—and she pushed me too far," Henry added, realizing he was cornered and had nothing left to lose.

Norman began to curse him out. "You absolute scoundrel!"

Barry signaled for the guards to take the murderer away to wait for the police transport.

"That was the killer," Norman said, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. "What about this other one?"

Simon had already observed enough to determine that the lecher who had harassed his sister was not connected to the murder. "Mr. Neils, you should head back and get some rest. This man is a suspect in an unrelated matter."

Exhausted by the night’s trauma, Norman gave a weary wave of his hand and departed.

Simon delivered a sharp kick to the creep's knee, forcing him down. "Name!" he barked.

"Xavier..." the man groaned, pinned firmly by Simon's grip. "Officer, I was just out for a smoke. I saw a pretty girl in the woods and let my impulses get the better of me... but I didn't even touch a hair on her head!"

He tried to play it down. "At most, this is a public order offense. A few days in detention, tops..."

Simon let out a cold snort. "Oh, so you're an expert on the penal code, are you?" He increased the pressure on the man's arm.

Hearing the surname Xavier, Nancy immediately made the connection to Ginnie’s shadow, Yolanda. Knowing this man wouldn't talk further here, she tugged on her brother’s sleeve. "Let’s just send him to the station with the others tomorrow. Let him sit in a cell for a few days to learn his lesson."

Nancy gave Simon a pointed look. He understood her silent cue immediately and had the guards haul the man away.

"Let me know the day he gets out," she whispered. "I'll have my little friends keep an eye on him."

Simon looked at her pale face, his brow furrowed with worry. "Nancy, you need to sleep. Now." His voice was thick with suppressed concern.

Nancy nodded wearily. The butler had already prepared a room for Simon, and Barry seemed to have slipped away sometime during the chaos.

As she dragged her heavy feet to her door, a waiter happened to stop before her with a service cart. "Your late-night meal, Miss."

He lifted the silver lid, and the fragrance of chicken and red date congee filled the air.

Nancy blinked in confusion. "I didn't order..."

"The kitchen sent it," the waiter said respectfully. "They were told you hadn't had a chance to eat all evening."

On the tray sat a small dispenser with pre-measured tablets and a folded note. She opened it to find sharp, forceful handwriting: "Take one if your blood sugar drops. "The strokes were bold and decisive, with no signature.

Nancy looked at the handwriting and knew exactly who had sent the porridge. Who else but Barry, the former battlefield medic, would write a prescription in such a flamboyant, authoritative hand?

Why the sudden act of kindness? After a moment, it clicked. She was the only animal communicator who could treat Star. Barry wasn't being nice; he just didn't want his specialist dropping dead.

The following morning, the mountain road had been cleared. Guests began to depart in waves, eager to leave Critters Villa behind after the grim events of the previous night.

The police had already taken the murderer into custody. As the arresting officer, Simon had to return to the station with the transport.

Nancy, however, headed back to the pine forest from the night before. She hadn't forgotten the chubby little bat that had helped her; she had promised to help the little guy lose weight.

Nancy called out into the trees, "Little bat? Are you there?"