Page 85 of Wild Wolf
"You hurt that cat and I'll come back and find you,” I warned in an ominous voice.
He gave me a dirty look as I walked away with Marley.
The rain drizzled down, and we were both soaked.
Marley still looked terrified and trembled. "That's not the first time you’ve had a weapon pointed at you, is it?”
I shook my head.
"My heart is beating a million miles a minute,” she said, trying to catch her breath.
"You came along at just the right time," I said as we walked back to her car. She was about to put the bolt cutters back into the trunk.
"I need to see those for a minute."
Thinking nothing of it, she handed the cutters to me.
I examined them carefully. These were the same bolt cutters that were used to access the zoo. There was no doubt about it.
"I appreciate your help, I really do," I said. "There's no telling what would have happened to that animal if we didn’t get him loose.”
"I know exactly what would have happened. That asshole would have lowered the feline population in the world. There's a special place in hell for people who harm animals.”
"I agree. Now, let's talk about the break-in at the zoo.”
"Have you gotten any leads on the case?”
"As a matter of fact, I have. I hate to do this, as I really appreciate your help, but you need to turn around and put your hands behind your back.”
“What!?” Marley said with a wrinkled brow.
"You're under arrest for breaking and entering, trespassing, reckless endangerment, and a host of other charges.”
She swallowed hard.
I brandished the bolt cutters and said, "There's clear security footage of someone using these to gain access to the zoo. I believe that someone is you.” I whispered, “Little piece of advice… Next time you commit a crime, get rid of all the evidence.”
Marley deflated, knowing she was stone-cold busted.
She turned around, placed her hands behind her back, and I gently put the cuffs around her wrists.
"Do yourself a favor and give up all your comrades. You might just get a reduced sentence. That little stunt you pulled could cost lives. I know you're aware of that.”
I called dispatch, and they sent a patrol unit.
I stuffed Marley into the back of the squad car. She was taken to the station, processed, printed, and put into aninterrogation room. It didn't take long in the hot seat before she confessed to the crime and listed everyone involved.
"I just wanted to bring awareness to the situation at the zoo,” she said with weepy eyes. “Some of those animals are being kept in horrible conditions. I believe zoo officials are engaged in trafficking endangered species. This whole thing is worth it to me if it brings deeper scrutiny.”
I didn’t know what to make of her allegations, but we’d look into it.
I left the station and drove the Porsche back to theAvventura. By that time, it was early evening. The angry sky still dropped a bunch of rain.
I parked the car, hustled down the dock, and boarded the boat. Buddy waited for me at the salon door. I knelt down and petted the little guy, then found Jack and filled him in on the events.
The storm moved out by the next morning, and the cleanup began. Over the next few days, we got a bit of a break—which was unusual.
The sheriff called. “Couple of fishermen pulled your werewolf out of the water.”
