Quincy’s throat bobbed, and he snuck a glance at Daisy, whose tongue hung half out of her mouth. He spoke slowly, as though choosing his words carefully. “After I spotted the blow gun on the ground, I didn’t touch it or move it. I just—I just stood there, staring at it, and then the officers found me.”
Daisy’s tail swished back and forth over the ground, scattering a few fallen leaves. True.
Peter nodded. “Thank you. I’m sorry for your loss. If you think of anything else that could help us, even if you’re not sure how, please reach out.” He fished a card out of the inside pocket of his uniform jacket and handed it to the bereaved husband, who took it and nodded.
We stepped aside, and Peter leaned around the curve in the walkway. A round mirror hovered slightly above Peter’s head, allowing us to see around the bend. He looked up into it and waved Jones back to stand guard over Quincy.
I pulled my lips to the side. “I think we should go back and talk to the veterinarian again. He came in that back door and was the second person on the scene. Plus, maybe he has more of an inside scoop to this drama with the former head zookeeper and that Zane guy who infiltrated the sanctuary from that animal rights group.”
Peter shot me a grin. “Sounds good.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What?”
His smile broadened. “Nothing, just—you sound like a cop.”
I gave an exaggerated gasp and looked around, then spoke in a stage whisper. “Keep your voice down. I don’t want you ruining my street cred.”
PHOENIX NEST
When we reentered the phoenix enclosure, it appeared to be empty aside from the rushing waterfall and the small jungle of lush plants. I glanced up toward the railing on the second story, then pushed an enormous fern aside, frowning. Daisy bounded off and disappeared among the foliage.
“Where is everybody?”
Peter’s shoes clicked along the hard volcanic rock as he walked over to where Malorie and the mystery woman’s bodies had been. “The team must’ve gotten the victims’ bodies to the station already.”
I followed him, glancing out the transparent force field to the ballroom full of hundreds of guests clad in animal print. They stood in small groups, being questioned by cops. As I scanned the room, my eyes landed on someone staring back at me.
Ice flooded my stomach as I recognized Ludolf Caterwaul, mob boss of the shifter underground. The skeletal man was flanked by several beefy dudes, no doubt his shifter bodyguards. I wondered with a shudder if the lion shifter was among them—the one who’d almost eaten me.
As much as I hated to admit it, Ludolf held a gravity larger than his physical size and didn’t need the muscle around him to seem intimidating. Still, I forced myself to hold my ground and meet his gaze without flinching. I wanted to reach out for Peter and point Ludolf out to Daisy and tell her to sic him, but I knew that would only be putting my boyfriend and his dog in more danger.
Ludolf had already threatened Peter with bodily harm multiple times. I gritted my teeth and balled my hands into fists as the man’s pale eyes bored into me.
Daisy barked, and I startled.
“You found something?” Peter turned toward the rustling dark green palms.
“Call your dog off!”
I recognized Mark the veterinarian’s voice, and with one last chilling look at ol’ Ludolf, turned away. I followed Peter down a narrow path. He glanced back at me, then did a double take and slowed until I walked beside him. “You okay?”
I nodded and gulped against the tight knot in my throat. “I spotted you-know-who. And he saw me right back. We had a fun little staring contest.”
Peter’s warm hand pressed against my lower back, and I grinned gratefully up at him. His jaw was set. “Are you okay?”
I nodded and waved it off as I turned sideways to slide past a sharp branch. “I mean, we came here to spy on him, right? It shouldn’t startle me to see him—”
“But it does.” Peter nodded, his deep blue eyes thoughtful. A red flush spread up his neck and ears. “We’ll make this right, Jolene. I promise. He can’t just use you as a test subject for whatever he’s making those potions for.” He heaved an angry sigh through his nose, and I leaned against his side.
“When we arrest him, can Daisy gnaw on him—just a little?”
The grim set to Peter’s mouth softened. “Sure—but just a little.”
I nodded. “Maybe she can bite off a few toes. I doubt he’d miss them.”
Peter chuckled and slipped his hand around mine.
I was only half joking. But first, we had to figure out a crime we could actually pin on the slippery snake. Ludolf had a way of lining up his lackeys to take the fall for his multitude of crimes, which I had a feeling we’d just seen the tip of. In any case, I was more than happy to put my personal problems aside and focus on the case in front of us. It made for a nice distraction from my predicament.
Daisy barked again—over here—and Mark cried out, “Hey!”
Peter banked hard to the right, and I trailed right behind him, still holding his hand. We came to a little clearing filled with a nest made of sticks and mud about the size of a large beanbag chair. Mark had his back against the rough trunk of a palm tree, palms up, while Daisy wagged her bushy tail and panted up at him. She glanced back over her shoulder at Peter and woofed.
I found him!
Mark’s wide eyes darted down to the dog, then back to Peter. “A little help here.”
Peter bent forward and patted his thighs. “Daisy! Come!”
The German shepherd bounded over, smiling widely, and Peter scratched behind her pointy ears. “Good girl.”
“Good?” Mark scoffed
