Stars & Stripes (Cut & Run #6)(35)
Author: Abigail Roux

“We call them habitats or enclosures. Each one has a double gate, where we can lock the cat in one section and clean the other safely. We believe one of the interns may have improperly latched the gates after cleaning or feeding, but . . . we take such precautions, I just don’t see how that could have happened. I mean, both gates?”

Ty and Zane shared a look. It was looking more like Ty’s theory might be correct. Ty’s eyes strayed past Zane to the wall behind him, and he began to drift toward it to look at a large, colorful map of the preserve grounds.

“The preserve has a perimeter fence?”

“It does. A backup measure for this very thing. We searched for days, but we have over one-hundred acres. I’m sure the tigers are still on grounds; we simply don’t have the manpower for a concerted search. We’re still looking.”

“Ma’am, we don’t believe that to be the case,” Zane said.

“I don’t understand.”

“A week ago, the owner of the C and G, the ranch that borders the preserve, was shot just a mile or two from one of your boundaries.”

“Oh, dear!”

“We think he witnessed a catnapping.” Ty managed to say that with a straight face. Zane had to fight back a snicker.

“You think someone came in and stole our cats?”

“Have you found any perimeter breaches?” Ty asked.

“No.” Tish brought a hand to her neck. “Really, we just thought they’d come home once they got hungry. We’ve all been on the alert.”

“Yeah, ’cause tigers are completely helpless when they want food,” Ty muttered as he looked back at the map.

“How tight is your security?” Zane asked.

“Well . . . our security is more for the safety and containment of the animals, not to keep people out. The border fences are electrified. Each habitat has a lock on it that requires a key.”

“What about this building?”

“A standard alarm system.”

“Are there any night guards? Caretakers for the animals?”

“There are six to eight interns on staff throughout the year. They all stay in the dormitory area. I can show you. Someone took the cats, didn’t they? To sell them? Oh my God.” Tish clapped her hands to her face, looking so distraught that Zane wished he had better news for her.

Annie patted her shoulder. “If anyone can find them, it’s my brother.”

Zane’s breath caught at the flow of surprise and warmth filtering through him. Ty brushed his elbow, a discreet showing of pride or support.

“Can you tell us what species are missing?” Ty asked.

“Of course.” Tish swiped a hand over her forehead. “They were two white Bengal tigers.”

“Bengal tigers?” Ty repeated.

“Yes. A male and female. Hansel and Gretel.”

Ty leaned in to whisper to Zane. “Those are the big-ass ones, Zane.”

Zane nodded.

“Actually, the Siberian tiger is bigger,” Tish said, babbling faster and wringing her hands. “Most people think white tigers are Siberians, but they’re usually a mixture of the two. The white gene comes from the Bengal, but they do tend to grow bigger than the orange ones.”

“So, very large tigers,” Zane said. Tish nodded and smiled weakly.

“I f**king hate Texas,” Ty hissed in Zane’s ear before turning back to Tish with a charming, fake smile.

Tish led them through the grounds, between large holding pens filled with every imaginable species of big cat and the trappings of keeping them healthy and happy. There were over forty habitats. Most were at least fifty feet square, with soaring cages that went over twenty feet high. They had inside and outside areas, with platforms as high as thirteen feet up, built around trees and hills. There were plastic playhouses and igloos, fake ponds with burbling waterfalls, tires on the ground and hanging from the trees, and debris that had probably once been rubber toys.

Leopards, cheetahs, lynx, tigers, cougars, bobcats, servals, and lions occupied the habitats, along with one small raccoon-like creature that lay curled protectively inside a hollow log, as if it smelled the fact that it was the only omnivore in the place.

Zane kept an eye on Ty as they moved through the facility. He felt sorry for his partner, sort of, but he was also amused. Ty seemed to have developed an extra nervous twitch the closer they got to the animals. Not that Zane could blame him.

When they passed a mountain lion named Duke, Ty skirted around the cage, putting Mark between the chain link and him. He didn’t look at the cat, and Zane grew concerned when he saw Ty shifting his weight from side to side, like he might be ready to bolt. His fingers constantly played with his USMC signet ring, and several times Zane saw his hand drift toward the gun in his holster. Zane frowned. Maybe he’d pushed too far, forcing Ty to come with them. He put his arm around Ty’s shoulders and squeezed.

“I’m sorry I made you come.”

Ty took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m okay.”

They followed Tish as she told them about each occupant in loving detail. Each cat had a tragic beginning, and Zane found himself lingering over the plaques that displayed their names and how they’d been rescued.

They walked past a pair of large jaguars up a tree, one black, one spotted. Green eyes tracked them from on high as sinuous tails flicked through the air.

Zane was beginning to feel more and more sympathy for Ty as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

They continued on, through winding pathways and up shady hills until they topped out on a plateau. The habitats were larger here, and further back sat sheds that housed equipment. The first enclosure they came upon on the plateau held a spectacular creature, one of the most beautiful Zane had ever seen up close: a white tiger.

“Baihu is a cross between a Bengal and a Siberian,” Trish said, slowing as they crossed in front of the new enclosure. “White tigers are prized among collectors, but they’re not at all rare like people think. Most are inbred for the recessive white gene and have certain health issues. If you look closely, you’ll see that Baihu is cross-eyed. And I must warn you, he’s quite aggressive, so when you pass by you may want to give him a wide berth.”

Ty muttered under his breath as they walked between Baihu’s fence and the fence of a small lynx named Zelda. Zane watched him closely, so focused on Ty that he was only dimly aware of a movement to his side. By the time he was able to turn his head, all he could see was the massive white tiger rushing at them, teeth bared. It leaped, hitting the fence with a growl. The chain rattled. Teeth gnashed at the chain link and claws hooked through it as the weight of the tiger’s massive body swung the fence back and forth.