She took it and stuffed it in her other pocket, then pulled her long tee over her shorts just in time for the van to stop. She slammed her eyes shut again until she heard both doors open and close. Her plan was to jump to her feet and lock the doors so they couldn’t get in, but her muscles didn’t want to obey her, and by the time she had crawled two feet, Bear had the back open and was pulling her out by the ankles.
“Nice try,” he said, lifting her out and setting her upright.
She swayed where she stood and her head spun. Angela prodded her with the gun, and Paradise staggered forward a few feet before falling to her hands and knees again. When Bear yanked her up again, she recognized the woods in the picture on the wall in the garage. How far had they gone? No one would know where to look for her, not with her phone left behind in the garage.
She heard the big cat hiss before she spotted the enclosure, and her gut clenched. Her guess had been correct. Bear or someone he’d hired had sent the leopard to The Sanctuary to warn her off, and he had another big cat here. She tried to run, but her legs still barely held her. Bear grabbed her in a fierce grip and marched her toward the gate Angela had opened. He shoved her inside and locked her in.
The biggest black jaguar she’d ever seen stalked the inner enclosure and bared his teeth at her. He couldn’t get to her. Not yet.
Paradise’s car was still parked outside, but she wasn’t in the garage or anywhere on the property that Blake could see. He’d even checked the trunk of the Barracuda. Someone had taken her. It was the only answer, and he had no idea where to look.
He pulled out his phone. “Her phone pings here somewhere. I’m going to try calling her.”
Drew nodded and went to the framed photograph on the wall. “Jane said she lingered over the picture of this print. Do you know where this is?”
“The vegetation is similar to this area, but it could be anywhere.”
Blake’s call went through, and music sounded from somewhere in the building. Blake tracked the sound to under the car. He dropped to his belly and reached under the ’Cuda to retrieve Paradise’s phone.
The light was on, and he swiped it to answer his own call, then ended it. It immediately went to locked screen. What might her password be? He tried her birth date, but that didn’t work. His password was the last six digits of his social security, but he didn’t know hers. Mom would have it. He shot a quick text to his mother asking her to check Paradise’s employment records.
While he waited for his mother to answer, he went to check the photograph on the wall. “It looks familiar, but I can’t quite place it. I’m sending it to Mom.”
Drew glanced up from his phone. “I’m having my former partner see if Bear owns any property nearby. It’s somewhere to start.”
“I’m glad you’re here because I don’t know where to look. I’m texting Jane and Rod.” Blake shot off texts to them asking for help identifying the spot in the picture. His phone pinged with a message from his mother.
I looked up property near here on the county website. Warren has a plot of land close to here. I’m sending you the address.
Blake showed the text to Drew. “Jane said the collars were sold to the park. I think Bear might have been working with Warren.” His phone sounded again. “Here’s the address. We can head back toward the park since we know it’s in the general neighborhood. Come on.” He rushed for the door with Drew on his heels and climbed into the truck. He handed Drew Paradise’s phone. “Mom is sending me Paradise’s social security number. See if you can get her phone unlocked.”
Drew took it and Blake stomped on the gas to get out to the main road. The truck tires slammed into potholes all the way out, but it was smooth sailing once they reached pavement.
His phone sounded with another text from his mom, and he had Blake try the last six digits, but it didn’t work. “Try the first six.”
“That’s it, and I’m in! I’ll check her emails and texts first.” Drew fell silent before shaking his head. “Nothing pertaining to the investigation. I’ll check her Notes app.” After a minute he growled, a sound of frustration. “She says she saw a black leopard and is going to follow it. I don’t like the sound of this, Blake.”
“That makes no sense. Her car is still at the garage, and she wouldn’t follow a black leopard on foot. She’s terrified of them. She has no weapon or any way to capture it. Someone else put that in her phone. She’s in trouble, Drew.”
Think, think!It was hard to grab hold of his thoughts with fear clouding his mind.
“My text still isn’t going through to Jane,” Drew said. “I tried calling too, but it’s dead air. Jane must be having trouble with her service.”
“I’ll call Mason.” Blake placed a quick call to The Sanctuary’s young volunteer. “Mason, can you put your drone up over the Dillard Ranch and any other land around the park? We’re looking for Paradise.”
“Sure, Blake. If it’s too far, my dad can get me closer. Is she in trouble?”
“I think so, buddy. We need to find her as soon as possible. And keep an eye out for a black panther.”
“Okay. I’m on it.” The teenager ended the call.
Drew was tense and jumpy. Blake wanted to comfort him, but he didn’t have the words when fear choked his own throat too. This was bad, very bad. Mason might be looking in the wrong place, but they had no better directions to send him.
Chapter 39
Paradise kept one eye on the jaguar and the other eye on her two captors. Her head still felt fuzzy with scattered thoughts from the drug they’d given her, but the cobwebs blew away the longer she was awake. The big cat sprayed urine her way, and the stench cleared her fog even more. She spotted more animals in another enclosure deeper in the trees. A couple of foxes and a wolverine.
Angela and Bear’s plans for her were clear. They intended to let the jaguar in with her. Every time she thought of that gate opening, her breath came hard and fast. Her fear could be her undoing, and she had to master it. The animal would be able to tell and she wouldn’t be able to assert dominance.
