Chapter 30
Deputies tried to flank the panther, coming up from either side of the beach.
JD and I went with the zoo recovery team and advanced with caution down the trail that led to the shore. We didn't get too far before we found the beast. The panther had climbed up into a tree and was lounging on a branch, riding out the rain. Just a bigger version of a cat stuck in a tree.
The Animal Response Team had tranquilizer guns.
We hovered on the trail, holding still, trying not to spook the big cat.
Ernie with the recovery team said, "He's too high in the tree to shoot. He might fall when the sedative takes action and get hurt.”
It could be a minute or a few hours, but we were going to have to wait for the animal to come down on its own.
Deputies were on hand to keep people away from the area, but with weather like this, there weren’t many visitors.
We waited, and waited, and waited…
The cat stretched and yawned, then took a nap.
At a casual glance, it didn't look like the cat had the temperament to shred unsuspecting victims on the beach.
It drizzled off and on while we waited, but most of the heavy weather had passed us by.
After three hours, the beast decided to climb down.
Ernie took the shot.
The panther twitched and took off running down toward the beach. It would take a few minutes for the sedative to kick in.
We hustled down to the shore, chasing after it. Deputies tried to keep the beast contained.
Soon, it grew wobbly, and its eyes heavy.
It stumbled, fell, and was out cold.
The Animal Response Team began the process of transferring the beast. I told them a forensic team would need to do a full evaluation, checking its claws and fur for blood and flesh.
We returned to the station, filled out after-action reports, and called it a day. One day out from the big event, we decided to take it easy again and keep it low-key. No band practice today. The guys wanted to have fresh energy for the show tomorrow night.
JD and I grabbed happy hour and planned to meet the guys out for a quick drink a little later.
With all the recent talk of werewolves, Sand Bar was putting on a werewolf costume contest. We figured that might be a good place to hang out. If we really were dealing with a guy in an elaborate costume, he might not be able to resist the competition.
We chowed down on appetizers and watched smoldering waitresses prance around in tight neoprene outfits. Even though it had mostly stopped raining, the dreary weather kept away most of the crowd. But I'm sure that would turn around by the end of the evening.
Taryn called.
I swiped the screen and held the device to my ear. "Don't tell me you've had another break-in?”
"No. Nothing like that, thank God. But what are you doing?”
"Enjoying a cocktail at Wetsuit. Would you like to join us?”
"No," she said with a little venom in her voice. “You’re harassing my students.”
"I don't know if I’d call it harassing. We asked some questions. They mostly told us to get lost."
"Rafe called me. He thinks I gave his name to the cops.”
"What did you tell him?”
She sighed. "I'm not in the business of lying to my students.
I said that you may have gotten information when you were in my office earlier today.
I couldn't be sure. It wasn't exactly a lie.
I don't know what you took from my office. I didn’t see it with my own eyes.
But having my students mad at me is not something I'm happy about.”
"I'm sure they'll get over it.”
"I crossed some serious ethical lines to help you.”
"And I appreciate it.”
"I could lose my job.”
"You’re not going to lose your job. You didn't give us any names. We took them. I thought you were leaving the country anyway.”
"I am. But that kind of impropriety reflects negatively on a career. There's no guaranteeing that my new employers wouldn't terminate my position if they found out about such a breach of student confidentiality.”
"Your secret’s safe with us,” I teased.
“This is no joke.”
"I get it. You’re pissed off. I'm sorry. I'm just trying to keep more people from getting hurt. That's all.”
She sighed. "I understand.”
"Come on out. Let me buy you a drink. You got anything better to do?"