Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 61: The Feline King's Ransom

Ryan agreed immediately over the phone.

While waiting for the fish to arrive, Nancy noticed the tabby was exceptionally restless. She crouched down for a closer look and spotted a clear patch of parasite bites on the edge of its left ear. The area was unnaturally red and swollen, with tiny wounds weeping a pale yellow fluid. The surrounding fur was sparse and matted from the cat’s frequent scratching.

Nancy, who now relied on animals to solve cases, always kept her veterinary medical kit in her backpack. She pulled out a small white spray bottle.

"King Tabby, I’m a doctor who specializes in treating animals. This is an anti-itch spray I developed myself. It’s very effective."

To demonstrate, Nancy sprayed a bit onto her own palm first, letting the crystalline droplets sparkle in the sunlight. "See? It’s perfectly safe."

She shook the bottle, allowing the fresh, herbal scent to drift through the air. "Would you like me to spray your left ear?" she asked softly, placing the bottle gently on the ground.

The tabby’s golden pupils contracted slightly as it eyed the bottle with suspicion. Its nose twitched, catching the soothing herbal aroma. The tip of its tail gave an involuntary flick before stiffening again.

It lowered its body, its voice carrying the typical wariness of a stray. "What do you want from me?"

Nancy scratched her head, then broke into a warm smile. "I’m a vet. Naturally, I just want you to be healthy and safe."

The tabby froze. Its pupils dilated slightly, and its ears gave an involuntary twitch before it looked away, feigning indifference. But Nancy clearly saw the tip of its furry tail swaying uncontrollably. Even the pressure of the paw pinning the mice loosened ever so slightly. "Hmph! Humans lie!"

The cat bared its teeth in a mock-ferocious hiss and gave its tail a hard flick—only to accidentally smack a nearby branch, causing its fur to puff out in embarrassment.

Seeing this "interesting" behavior, Nancy knew the cat desperately needed the spray. She edged closer and delivered a light mist onto its pointed ear.

"This might feel a bit cold and might sting for a second," Nancy explained gently, "but it will work very quickly."

The tabby tilted its head back, its round golden eyes straining to look upward to inspect its own ear. The movement made it look both clumsy and adorable. Its furry ear tips flickered as it felt the medicine take effect.

As the maddening itch finally began to fade, its tense body visibly relaxed. Its tail dropped to the ground in a peaceful drape. After a moment of quiet, it tilted its head as if weighing its options. Finally, with a haughty flick of its paw, it released the two trembling mice.

"I hate owing people favors," the cat said while looking away. It continued,"I'll reward these mice to you then."

The two mice scrambled behind Nancy instantly. The older squirrel hurried over to comfort them. Once Gray had recovered from the shock, he whispered to Nancy. "That mouse saw the man in black take Jonas away!"

Nancy scattered a handful of biscuit crumbs. The little mouse, having just escaped death, looked at the food with shining eyes.

"Little one," Nancy asked, "where did Jonas get taken from?"

The mouse devoured the crumbs like a whirlwind before beckoning Nancy with a tiny paw. "Follow me!"

Nancy waved to the tabby. "Come along, King Tabby. The fish will be delivered to me in a moment."

The little mouse led Nancy through a series of twists and turns. She observed carefully; the blind spots in these alleys were indeed numerous. But why would Jonas come here?

After about seven minutes, the mouse stopped at a street sign labeled "Silk Willow Lane."

"It's here! The man you asked us to search for stopped here before two men in black suits came out. One of them covered his face with a cloth which made him pass out. The other one put him in a sack before they left with him."

"And then? Where did they take him?"

The mouse ducked its head. "That's all I know. I smelled milk after that, so I went to the trash."

Nancy’s heart sank. The joy of finding a lead vanished instantly. Now she only knew that Jonas had been kidnapped by two men in black. The trail had gone cold again.

The tabby cat licked its paw. Being highly sensitive, it immediately picked up on Nancy’s frustration. "What's there to be sad about? You can always ask another mouse nearby who might've seen him." It tapped the hem of her jeans with the tip of its tail, acting arrogant as ever. "What does the human look like? Show me."

Nancy quickly pulled up the photo of Jonas on her phone. The tabby narrowed its golden eyes, studied it for a moment, and then turned to leave. "Just wait here for me."

Watching the tabby’s retreating back, Nancy had the strange illusion that she was actually the pet being looked after by this bossy cat.

She sent her current location to Shaun and Ryan. Ten minutes later, Ryan arrived with the meat. "Here, I got some fresh salmon."

Nancy stared at the salmon, her eyes wide. This cat ate better than she did! "Thanks, Ryan," she sighed. "How much was it? I’ll Venmo you."