“Well, it was in the woods,” Shirley hedged, and Heidi shrugged.
“Can’t help you.”
“What about the video on YouTube? Ritchie Handleman said you brought the wounded panther back to this clinic. Is it in there? May I see it?”
Heidi held up her hands to stop the questions. “I assure you there is no black panther in my clinic.”
She forced a chuckle. “Or anywhere for that matter. Such creatures do not exist, but I’d sure love to see one if you find one around here.”
“What was it then? What was it that Ritchie Handleman said he shot?”
Heidi racked her brain but could not remember Ritchie or Dave holding a camera or taking any pictures, so they must have done that before she arrived. She prayed there was no proof she’d been there with this so-called panther.
She shrugged again, praying she wasn’t about to step up to her eyeballs into it. “I’m sorry, but I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“What is this then?” The reporter held out a piece of paper she’d pulled from her back pocket. Heidi took it and unfolded it. A printout of a photograph obviously taken with a grainy cell phone camera.
God, she’d ring Ritchie’s neck. She hadn’t thought to tell him to keep his mouth shut. Why should she have? She’d thought the cat escaped from somewhere.
“I really can’t tell,” she said, handing the printout back to Shirley.
“Do you deny Handleman’s claims of shooting a black panther?”
“You’ll have to ask Handleman about what he hunts, but I didn’t know there was a hunting season on a non-existent creature.”
Shirley lowered the recorder and in a stage whisper said, “Come on, Heidi. Between you and me.
What is that he shot? It looks like a black Falke. He said you came and picked it up after he called you.”
The red light was still lit on the recording device, and Heidi smiled politely while her gut clenched and a cold sweat pop out on her forehead. Town rumor claimed Shirley and Ritchie had dated a couple years back. They might still be close. This was going to get out of hand real fast if she didn’t nip it.
“Shirley, believe me, I understand the big news that finding a black panther might produce. But don’t you think Ritchie might be having some fun with you? You know he was always somewhat of a prankster.” She pointedly glanced at her watch. “My first patient of the day—which by the way will be your average hound dog—should be arriving soon.”
“Heidi, come on. I don’t think Ritchie is lying.”
Heidi shook her head and gave a little smile. “I’ve gotta go.” She turned and walked onto the porch and into the clinic.
“This is not good,” Beth said as soon as the door clicked shut.
Heidi took a deep breath, bit her bottom lip, then walked past Beth and out to the garage.
The jaguar looked up but didn’t bother to raise his head from his paws.
“We have a situation, and if you can understand me, you better damn well listen up.”
“Squawk. Listen up. Listen up.”
The cat’s right ear twitched and his eyes narrowed as he turned his attention to Paco. Heidi had visions of white feathers flying and a weeping Mrs. Henderson coming to retrieve her bird.
“Look at me, damn it.” Heidi rattled the cage door. “There is a reporter outside who thinks I have a black panther in here. The guy who shot you posted pictures on the internet. If you understand what I’m saying, you better let me know, because I can’t hide you in here forever, which means...you’re fucked.”
“What if he can’t understand you?” Beth asked softly. “What are we going to do?”
“You’re fucked. Squawk.”
Oye, chata. If you don’t shut that goddamn bird up, I’m going to ring its neck.
Heidi sagged with relief against the chain link gate. The voice she heard in her head was a bass timbre with a very strong, very sexy Spanish accent. She grinned at the cat, then at her sister-in-law.
“Give me the keys.” She held her hand out to Beth, who dithered. “It’ll be okay.”
Beth’s puckered expression showed her disapproval, but she handed over the keys. “Be careful, sis.”
“I will. Go make sure all the blinds are shut tight, and give Mrs. Blake a call. Tell her to stay home today...with pay.”
“And when she asks why?”
“Tell her I’ve decided to take a personal day.”
“But shouldn’t we go about business as usual? Won’t it look suspicious if we don’t?”
She hesitated a moment. Beth had a point. “Okay. Nix that call, but I really need you here to keep her busy and out of the garage.”
“I can do that.”
“And postpone any appointments that require my attendance.” Beth was experienced enough to handle minor first aid treatments and vaccinations without her. “You don’t mind covering for me, do you? The appointment book should be on her desk.”
“Sure.”
Hopefully, Shirley’s interest over an unsubstantiated sighting of a panther would dissipate by then.
It was true that Ritchie had pulled pranks as a teenager. If she could get the evidence out of the clinic, there would be no proof he wasn’t just pulling a fast one on an ex-girlfriend who happened to be a reporter. Of course, he’d posted the video on YouTube...
“Oh, and one more thing?” Beth stopped, turned and waited. “Before Mrs. Blake arrives, could you run over to that second-hand store and get some clothes for our guest...and crutches if they have some?”
Beth eyed the jaguar before giving a quick nod.
“Thanks.”
“Just be careful.”
Heidi waited for Beth to leave the garage before turning back to the cage. If he was going to attack, she didn’t want her sister-in-law in the path of destruction. “Okay, big guy. We’ve got to get that cast off your leg and see how far you’ve healed. Only way we’re sneaking you out of here is as a human.”
She clicked open the padlock but left it hanging in the latch, still holding the door secure. “You’re going to be a very good boy, aren’t you? Nothing funny. No more games. This is serious. I can’t help you if you don’t cooperate, and I’d rather not have to tranquilize you again.”
He snarled but then closed his eyes and blew out a harsh breath. I have never hurt a woman in my life, and I do not plan to start now.
She pulled the padlock from the latch and let the door swing open. “That’s good, ’cause if you were dumb enough to hurt me, discovery would be the least of your concerns. My family would hunt you down and turn you into roadkill.”
“Roadkill. Squawk.”
The jaguar growled, but he glared at Paco, not her.
You have my word, chata. I’ll not harm a hair on your head. That bird may be another story.
Heidi chuckled and closed the gap between them, knelt next to him. “It’s only been two days. How fast do you heal?” She touched the cast. “My brothers take at least a week, but none of them have had a broken femur.”
Not that fast, but I feel my strength returning. I will be able to shift, at least once.
She winced. Shifting with a broken bone would hurt like hell, and the leg would have to be recast afterwards. “Will you tell me your name now?”
The big black head with gorgeous amber eyes swung toward her, and she wanted to wrap her arms around his neck, bury her face against his fur. He was the most beautiful creature she’d ever seen. But there was no time for such things now. Right now, he was her patient, and she had to literally save his life. Again. This time from a fate that could be worse than death.