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    Cameron and Bradley got into the car.


    One hand draped over the steering wheel, he watched Austin disappear around the corner. "Since when are you and Austin attached at the hip?"


    "Not a big deal," Cameron shrugged.


    Bradley let it drop, firing up the engine.


    "Where to next?" she asked.


    "The zoo first."


    She nodded. "Works for me."


    Forty minutester, the sleek ck sedan rolled to a stop in front of Viremont Zoo''s gates. They''d made it just in time, as thest visitors trickled out.


    Inside, Cameron''s heart sank at the sight of Pearl. The tigery motionless in its ss enclosure of several hundred square feet, a shadow of its former self. Its coat was dull, and it''d lost so much weight that its ribs showed beneath its fur The zookeeper said, "Mr. Wace, thank god you''re here. It hasn''t eaten in days and just lies there all day. Even the vet won''t go near-too dangerous."


    Cameron bit her lip. At Fraser Vi, Pearl had roamed acres ofnd, free toe and go. Now this tiny, see-through cage? No wonder it was miserable.


    It made sense it''d lost its appetite. Poor thing. This couldn''t go on, but where could she possibly take a full-grown tiger?


    "Pearl." Cameron rapped her knuckles on the ss.


    The tiger lifted its head, ears flicking at the sound.


    When its gazended on Cameron, those dull, lifeless eyes suddenly sparked


    with recognition. Pearl whipped around andunched itself forward, only to m into the barrier with a thud.


    "Awooo..." It pressed its muzzle against the ss, nuzzling Cameron''s outstretched hand.


    "Let me in," Cameron pleaded, turning to the zookeeper.


    Bradley cut in, "Release it. We''re taking it with us."


    "Brad?" Cameron gaped at him.


    She thought, ''Taking a full-grown tiger back to Noble Vista? The neighbors will have a heart attack.''


    He met her stare. "This isn''t the ce for it. We have to get it out."


    "But Noble Vista isn''t, either."


    He smirked. "Who said anything about Noble Vista?"


    "Then where?"


    "Just trust me." His grin held a promise. "You''ll see."


    Cameron hesitated, then nodded. There was something about that confident smile


    that made her shoulders rx. Brad always had a way of making


    even the craziest ideas feel safe.


    15.41 Mon 26 May


    With a click, the zookeeper unlocked the ss door.


    Pearl bounded out, tall wagging as it danced around Cameron, rubbing its fuzzy head against Cameron''s legs like an overgrown housecat.


    Cameron dropped to her knees, scratching behind the tiger''s ears. “I''m so sorry. You must have had a hard time these days. You won''t be stuck here anymore."


    Pearl let out a happy growl, prancing in circles.


    Bradley headed off to sort out the paperwork.


    When he returned, he said, "All settled. They refunded 25 thousand dors to your ount."


    Not bad, considering Cameron''d paid 30 thousand dors originally.


    Cameron nodded. "Thanks."


    She helped Pearl into the backseat of Bradley''s Mercedes. The car wasn''t huge, but there was enough room for the tiger to stretch outfortably.


    As Cameron climbed into the passenger seat, her blood ran cold. "Brad, I don''t have a wildlife permit. We can''t take it."


    Wordlessly, Bradley popped open the glovepartment and handed her a brown envelope. "Take a look."


    Cameron shot him a skeptical nce, then tore it open. Her eyes widened. "You got the permit? When?"