“And the only reason I can think of is that someone is afraid the truth will come out.”
“Drew won’t be frightened away, but I don’t like having you at the center of the danger.” He settled on a concrete ledge and pulled her onto his lap to warm her.
Her trembling stilled even more. “I’ll face whatever I have to if it leads to the truth.”
He loved how brave she was. Fear didn’t paralyze her. “Want some chocolate-covered peanuts? I had grabbed a baggie full when I got your text and stuck them in my pocket.” He retrieved the treat and opened the top.
She took a handful. “You know me too well.”
“Not nearly well enough, but I’m working on it.”
The headlamps from two vehicles swept the parking lot. Jane Dixon, Pelican Harbor police chief, got out of the first SUV and hurried toward them. “Did you call the sheriff?” Her petite stature masked a powerhouse of dedication to upholding law and order. Her looks had always put Blake in mind of a young Reese Witherspoon.
Blake released Paradise and shook his head. “I couldn’t tolerate the thought of Creed Greene’s smirking face tonight.” Technically the preserve was the sheriff department’s jurisdiction, but Greene tended to assume everything that had happened here was Blake’s fault, and the deputy had yet to investigate any of the incidents here over the past few months without bias. The Pelican Harbor PD oversaw Nova Cambridge law enforcement, and Jane was quick to take jurisdiction when she could since The Sanctuary was so close to Nova Cambridge. Greene and the police chief had clashed several times, but Jane had managed to keep him in line so far.
Detective Augusta Richards and forensic tech Nora Craft exitedthe second SUV. Nora snapped pictures and took measurements of the drag marks and tire tracks while Augusta and Jane listened to Paradise recount the terrifying event.
“I wish you’d managed to get a picture of the big cat,” Jane said.
“The leopard showed signs of an imminent attack, and I didn’t want to make any movements that might trigger it before Blake got outside with the tranq gun.” A thread of distress ran through Paradise’s voice.
Blake took her hand. “You did the right thing.”
“Of course,” Jane agreed quickly. “Someone has an attack leopard? Seems crazy. How would anyone control a cat like that?”
“It would have to be highly trained from the time it was a cub,” Paradise said. “And even then it wouldn’t be easy. There are plenty of instances of owners being mauled by big cats they trusted. Our predator keepers here interact with our tigers and lions but always carefully and not without risk.”
Paradise’s fingers inched to the healed injury on her left shoulder from a black jaguar mauling she’d endured, and Blake squeezed her other hand. She’d made inroads in getting over her fear of big cats, but this incident might set her back.
He folded his arms across his chest. “The bigger question is, what did the trainer hope to gain by letting it loose? It was a deliberate attempt to intimidate Paradise. Show Augusta and Jane the text, babe.”
She swiped on her phone before she handed it to Jane. “There’s a subtle threat there you’ll recognize.”
Jane studied the phone before she gave it to Augusta. “Have you had any leopards go missing over the years? Or heard of anyone with one for a pet?”
“Nope,” Blake said. “The Big Cat Public Safety Act was signedin 2022 and made it illegal to own big cats. But I’m sure plenty of people have kept their ownership quiet. We’re near the coast and someone could have brought a cub in illegally by water.”
“You’re certain it was a leopard and not a jaguar?” Augusta said. “Jaguars are in the Americas and might be easier to smuggle.”
“Good question, Detective.” Blake turned to Paradise. “You’re sure?”
“Positive. Jaguars are stockier with a broad head and shorter legs. It was a leopard.”
That didn’t get them any closer to figuring out who owned an illegal big cat. Blake made a mental note to have a tranq gun and a regular one on his person at all times and to make sure his mother knew to keep his little brothers safe. He’d make sure Paradise was well armed too. This wouldn’t be over soon.
Chapter 2
Levi’s fingers tightened around Paradise’s hand as he eyed the Ferris wheel at The Wharf, a popular mall and marina near Orange Beach. The Gulf breeze lifted his dark brown hair. “I don’t think I want to ride that.”
The boy had developed a fear of heights, and Paradise remembered when she’d felt the same. Even now her spine tingled at the thought of getting stuck in one of the cars at the top. “You don’t have to ride it.” She shifted the bag of boy clothes from one hand to the other. “We have what we came for.”
“I’ll go!” Isaac, Levi’s five-year-old brother, kicked off his shoes.
Jenna nudged his flip-flop closer to his left foot. “Get your shoes back on. Developing a bit of fear might be good for you. I don’t like Ferris wheels either, so I’ll let Blake take you.”
“Gee, thanks, Mom.” Blake released Paradise’s other hand and reached for Isaac’s. “I can handle it though. Sure you don’t want to come, Levi? I’ll hang on to you the whole time.”
Fear vied with interest in Levi’s brown eyes, and he cautiously edged closer to his older half brother. “The whole time?”
