Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love | Read Free Preview

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Chapter 1 — Someone Wants To Kill You

"Someone wants to kill you!"
Nancy Summers jolted awake at the words.
Who?
Who was speaking?
She sat up in shock. Her tiny rental room could be seen at a glance, and there was no one inside.
Could it be that her fever last night had made her hallucinate?
But no—she had heard that voice clearly just now. It had sounded like a little boy.
Could her shabby little apartment be haunted?
She looked toward the window. Two squirrels were perched on the sill, tails flicking as their beady eyes fixed on her.
When they saw she was awake, both squirrels opened their mouths wide in unison and pointed their paws at their mouths.
Nancy immediately understood. These two greedy little things were hungry.
She lived on the second floor, with a big camphor tree just outside. The squirrels that lived in it sometimes hopped onto her windowsill to beg for food.
She rubbed her throbbing head and checked her temperature with a thermometer. After two days, the fever had finally broken.
Nancy grabbed some breakfast cookies and tossed them onto the sill for the squirrels.
One squirrel was bigger, the other smaller—most likely brothers.
The little one stuffed his cheeks full of cookies right away.
It chirped and said, "Thank you, kind lady."
Nancy froze in place, dumbstruck.
Wait. Did the squirrel just speak human words?
She smacked her forehead. Had her fever fried her ears?
The two squirrels kept nibbling as they chattered to each other.
The little brother looked simple and goofy, clearly a foodie. "Hey, today's cookie is milk flavored. It's really good!"
The older brother’s bright black eyes shone with a sharp glint. "But the kind lady seems to be struggling to live herself. I mean, she's also being targeted by a murderer. I'm really worried."
The younger squirrel stopped chewing, looking strangely somber. "What should we do then? We can't even call the cops…"
Nancy realized without a doubt now—she could understand what the squirrels were saying!
So the voice that had woken her up with "someone wants to kill you" had actually come from them?
She asked quickly, "Little squirrels, someone wants to kill me? What’s going on?"
The cookies dropped right out of their paws.
The younger one’s mouth fell open into an O. "Y-You… You can understand us?"
Nancy nodded, just as bewildered. "I had a bad fever, and suddenly I can understand you."
The chittering she heard automatically turned into words in her mind.
The little one hurried to report. "That's awesome! Kind lady, we noticed a creepy man stalking your apartment downstairs lately."
The older one added. "He's clearly stalking you, and we even heard him say, I'll kill another one this month. He only leaves after you switch off the lights."
The guy they were talking about was investigating her schedule!
Goosebumps prickled across Nancy’s skin. "Did you see what he looked like?"
The older one scratched his head. "He looks exactly like the man on the poster in the park. The morning joggers mentioned that he's a muffin-ner!"
The younger swallowed hard. "A muffin-ner? Oh, muffins are awesome! He should be popular, right? Like some sort of celebrity? I mean, his face is plastered everywhere!"
Muffin-ner? Could it be... a murderer?!An uneasy dread tightened in Nancy’s chest. "Where’s the poster? What did it look like?"
The older one put down his cookie. "I took one down yesterday, and I hid it in my little home! I'll go get it for you."
He darted back to the hollow in the tree and soon returned, carrying a crumpled piece of paper in his mouth.
Nancy took the torn sheet, and her vision swam.
The bold heading "Wanted" stood out in huge letters.
This wasn’t some celebrity poster. It was a wanted notice!
"Wanted: Felix Jones (male, 37), a Ministry of Public Security Class A fugitive, suspected of multiple vicious homicides, crimes extremely heinous."
…
"Anyone providing information leading to his capture will receive a joint reward of $500,000 from law enforcement and victims’ families."
Nancy’s spine went cold.
She was being targeted by a Class A fugitive!
Her first instinct was to call the police.
She unlocked her phone, her eyes landing on the call history—"Jack." Her finger trembled.
Jack Summers, the eldest son of the wealthy Summers family, the brother she had thought as part of her family for twenty-two years. After returning from overseas, Jack had become a professor of criminology at a young age and was now a special consultant for the Townsville Police Department, enjoying expert-level treatment.
She knew Jack had been tracking Felix’s serial killings.
Jack could send the family’s bodyguards to protect her and contact the major crimes unit directly.
Nancy dialed his number, but it was cut off right away.
Almost immediately, a text from Jack appeared: "Stop bothering me! You won’t admit to your mistakes. I will never bring you back into the Summers family!"
Pain stabbed through her chest.
A month ago, a girl named Ginnie had shown up with a paternity test.
That was when the wealthy Summers family realized the daughter they had raised for twenty-two years wasn’t theirs.
The Summers family ran a large pet medicine and veterinary hospital chain. From childhood, Nancy had been pushed by her parents into top veterinary schools and endless training programs.
John Summers was ruthless—if she didn’t come in first place, he’d throw her pet hamsters off the balcony.
Nancy had never dared relax, always on edge, studying hard.
By her early twenties, she was already a top veterinarian, even leading the research of the family’s new vaccine "Claw Shield."
So when the real daughter returned, the Summers family hadn’t planned to throw Nancy out.
But two weeks ago, Ginnie Summers broke her right leg and claimed Nancy had pushed her down the stairs.
Furious, the Summers family hadn’t even given Nancy a chance to explain. Jack had thrown her bags out that very day.
Nancy had been helpless and heartbroken. Didn’t the Summers family know how outdated that kind of framing was?
With her call cut off, she tried texting Jack about Felix—but found herself blocked.
Forget it. The Summers family wouldn’t believe a word she said now. Nancy turned instead to dial 911.
It rang a long while before someone picked up.
A kind, warm female voice came through. "Hello, this is Townsville 911 emergency services. How can we help you?"
"I think I spotted the wanted fugitive Felix downstairs from my apartment," Nancy reported, her voice trembling.
"It looked like he was scouting the place before a crime!"
She gave her address and floor number. "I live at…"
Hearing it was related to a Class A fugitive, the operator clearly grew serious. "Thank you for calling. We’ll escalate this immediately."
"Can you leave your name and contact information?"
…
After hanging up, Nancy exhaled in relief. That operator had sounded diligent and responsible.
She glanced at her phone. She had slept fitfully all the way to six in the evening.
Dusk was falling.
Her stomach growled, but she didn’t dare leave the apartment.
A quick search showed Felix committed crimes at all hours, even broad daylight.
If she had the bad luck to bump into him, she’d be done for.
"Don't worry, kind lady, we'll stay here with you."
The older squirrel sensed her fear. He patted her shoulder with his tiny paw. "I already told my brother to keep watch downstairs for you. He'll let us know if the bad guy shows up."
Nancy’s heart softened. She was actually being protected by two squirrels.
She tossed another cookie toward him. "Thank you!"
Not long after, her phone rang.
The caller ID made her freeze—it was Jack Summers.
She answered, only to hear his furious roar explode through the speaker:
"Nancy, you’ve got some nerve! When I ignore your calls, you make a false police report?"

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Chapter 2 — How Dare You Report False Leads?

"I didn't make a false report, what I said was true!" Nancy panicked.
"Still denying it? The call center just contacted our task force. They said a woman named Nancy reported seeing Felix near her home."
Jack's voice was filled with anger. "Good thing they notified me right away, otherwise our entire team would have been running in circles because of you! You know how much trouble the Felix serial murder case has caused me. So you came up with this stunt—lying about a lead just to make us worry about you and bring you back home?"
Nancy was shocked, her heart turning cold. "I really didn't."
"How could I joke about something like this?"
"Heh. Stop lying. You're just an impostor who stole someone else's place."
Jack's fury only grew. "Do you even know what kind of suffering Ginnie has endured all these years outside? Your real brother is nothing but a lowly officer at some remote station, barely making three thousand a month. How much could a broke nobody like him possibly give Ginnie for living expenses?"
He sighed with heartache. "Ginnie had to start working while still in college. She never had the luxury you enjoyed, being spoiled by our Summers family."
Nancy held back a bitter smile, wanting to speak but stopping herself.
At least Ginnie was healthy.
The crushing pressure of the Summers family and their endless academic demands had ruined Nancy's health, leaving her frail and sickly. She would rather have had an ordinary life with a healthy body than be like this—constantly falling ill with fevers, coughs, and fainting spells.
Now she couldn’t even afford her own medical bills or nutritional supplements.
"If you dare report false leads again, don't blame me for showing no mercy. Making false reports is punishable with detention!"
Jack hung up mercilessly.
Nancy rubbed her throbbing temples, tears of anger and frustration streaming down her face.
That idiot Jack—who was he to take away her right to call the police?
She was going to die!
A big, fluffy tail suddenly brushed against her cheek.
It was Squirrel Brother, using his furry tail to wipe away her tears.
"My tail’s just been washed today. It’s clean—don’t mind it."
Nancy broke down crying even harder.
Someone she had treated with sincerity for over twenty years was worse than a little squirrel she hadn’t even known for twenty days.
What was she supposed to do now… That bastard Jack had really screwed her over! Just as panic gripped her, a name flashed across her mind—
Wait. There was still someone else.
Nancy’s biological brother, Simon Zach, was a police officer at a township station thirty kilometers away.
Because they had only recently reconnected, Nancy and Simon hadn’t yet met in person—she only had his contact information.
But when he heard she’d been kicked out by the Summers family, he arranged through someone to find her a place to stay.
Surely… he couldn’t be a bad person?
Nancy nervously dialed her brother’s number.
The call connected quickly.
Nancy tested the waters with a soft call: "Simon?"
"Nancy? What’s wrong?"
A steady, upright male voice came through, tinged with surprise, as though he hadn’t expected her to call.
But before Nancy could respond, Simon asked sharply, "Why do you sound so weak and hoarse? Are you sick?"
Nancy hadn’t expected him to notice so quickly. Her chest tightened with emotion. "I had a little fever yesterday."
She rushed to the main point. "I’ve been targeted by an A-level fugitive. Can you help me? I don’t want to die…"
Nancy’s trembling voice recounted what had just happened, leaving out the part about the squirrel.
"They don’t believe me, and I really don’t know who else I can turn to…"
Nancy thought Simon would press her for details, but instead his reply was firm and immediate—
"Don’t be afraid. Stay at home and wait for me. Lock your doors and windows. I’ll be there right away."
She could already hear rustling noises on his end, like he was packing things up.
Then Simon added, "If you’re scared, don’t hang up. I’ll stay on the line with you."
Nancy froze, then choked out, "Okay."
She hadn’t expected someone she’d never even met in person to rush over from thirty kilometers away just because of one phone call.
She quickly searched online for information about Simon.
She hadn’t expected much—township officers usually just dealt with petty disputes, like stolen chickens or missing cows…
But what she found shocked her.
Article after article showed Simon was a top graduate of the National Police University, champion of a national martial arts competition, and had even earned commendations back in his sophomore year.
With his education and skill, why would someone like him be stationed in a remote township?
Had he offended someone powerful?
Nancy even wondered if she had searched for the wrong name.
Simon’s voice pulled her back to reality. "Nancy, have you eaten?"
"No, I was going to buy some oats," Nancy said, curling up in the corner of her bed. "But now I don’t dare go out, and I don’t dare order delivery."
"Alright. Wait for me," Simon said simply, his words filled with strength.
Soon, only the sound of the wind came through the line.
Nancy, strangely, felt at peace.
Wait a second…
If her brother really was that capable man she’d read about online, did that mean tonight he might actually catch the A-level fugitive?
Could they even end up with the 500,000 reward?
Exhausted and weak, Nancy lay down and drifted off into uneasy dreams.
She didn’t know how long she’d slept when—
The younger squirrel’s voice whispered in her ear. "Someone's here, kind lady!"
Nancy snapped her eyes open, shivering.
The sky outside was completely dark now.
She lived in a crowded neighborhood where the lighting was poor, shadows swallowing the view outside.
The walls were thin, and footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Nancy’s heart leapt into her throat—
Until she heard Simon’s voice, both through the phone and at the door.
"Nancy, I’m at your door. Open up."
Nancy exhaled sharply in relief and hurried to open the door.
The moment it swung open, she froze.
The man standing there was tall and striking, with tanned skin, sharp brows, piercing eyes, and strong, chiseled features. His brighteyes slanted upward, giving him an air of righteousness.
He looked like the very image of a model officer, as if handpicked by the nation itself.
Holy crap—this was her brother Simon, the one by blood?

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Chapter 3 — The Killer At The Door!

Simon stood in the doorway with several bags in hand. Freeing one hand, he reached out and touched Nancy’s forehead, then quickly pulled back.
"The fever’s gone?"
Nancy nodded blankly.
Closing the door, Simon frowned in concern. "Why are you staring like that? Don’t tell me the fever fried your brain."
Nancy’s expression stiffened. This brother of hers really had no filter.
He was dressed in a navy training jacket, broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, his long legs wrapped in black utility pants. His tall frame made the cramped rental room feel even smaller.
"Come eat." He laid out hot oats and pastries on the table, then pulled out a large bag of snacks.
Nancy, starving after a whole day without food, grabbed a fork and began devouring the meal.
Watching her wolf down the food, guilt flickered in Simon’s eyes. "I’m sorry. I should have taken better care of you."
A month ago, when he first learned Nancy was his real sister, he hadn’t had the courage to reach out.
The girl he’d raised, Ginnie, had always despised him—looked down on him for being useless, for earning so little. Their relationship was reduced to him sending her living expenses every month, or paying her credit card bills when she overspent. They barely spoke otherwise.
Nancy, on the other hand, had grown up in the Summers family’s wealthy household for twenty-two years. Simon hadn’t been sure if his real sister would reject him just like Ginnie did.
Only when Ginnie slipped while asking him for ID did Simon learn that Nancy had been cast out of the Summers family.
Nancy looked up in surprise at his sudden apology.
In a tentative voice she called, "Simon."
"You don’t need to apologize. We’ve only just met. We’re not familiar with each other yet. Besides, you’re busy with work."
Hearing that his sister showed no sign of rejecting him, Simon’s tense heart eased a little. "Alright. Eat."
They fell silent again, the air a little heavy.
Simon glanced around, then got up. With brisk, practiced movements, he tidied her messy suitcase and wiped down the furniture until the place was spotless.
By the time Nancy finished eating, her tiny apartment looked brand new.
She was stunned—her brother was so good at keeping house?
She guessed that after their parents died, Simon must have relied on scholarships and part-time jobs to raise Ginnie by himself. Years of living independently had turned him into the dependable kind of brother who could manage everything.
When Nancy put down her fork, Simon swiftly cleared the table and set a device by her bed.
Nancy blinked in confusion. "What’s that?"
With a perfectly serious face, Simon said, "A stun baton the villagers use to herd pigs. It’s good for self-defense—and it’s legal."
Nancy burst out laughing. She hadn’t expected rural work to have this kind of advantage. "Trust you to think of that!"
Simon thought she might dislike something so rustic, but she didn’t mind in the least. That little moment of humor eased the awkwardness between them.
"Nancy, tell me again how you spotted Felix."
He opened a bottle of milk and set it in front of her.
Nancy hesitated. "Last night I went downstairs to take out the trash and brushed past a man. I thought he looked a lot like Felix from the wanted poster. There was something familiar about his presence. Then I remembered—three nights ago, when I was closing the window screen, I noticed someone standing downstairs staring in this direction."
Simon watched closely as she spoke, catching her eyes darting up and to the right—a microexpression of lying. But he didn’t call her out.
Nancy seemed so insecure. Whatever the reason for her lie, he would stay with her tonight.
Unable to say she’d been warned by a squirrel, Nancy made something up. "I noticed they both walked the same way. It felt like he’s been watching me these past few days."
She sneaked a look at Simon, afraid he wouldn’t believe her.
After a pause, Simon spread his jacket by the door and sat down on the floor.
"Don’t worry. I’ll keep watch here tonight. You can sleep in peace."
Nancy opened her mouth, realizing there wasn’t really anywhere for him to sleep.
Sensing her guilt, Simon reassured her. "It’s fine. I wasn’t planning on sleeping anyway."
Nancy worked on her résumé for a while, browsed job listings, then sleepiness overcame her.
After washing up, she got into bed. Simon tucked the blanket around her and handed her some cold medicine.
Exhausted from days of poor rest, she quickly drifted into a deep sleep. Simon switched off the lights.
It was past midnight when a squirrel leapt onto the windowsill, scratching at the screen with its tiny claws."Kind lady, the muffin-ner is here! He's walking upstairs!"
Nancy snapped awake instantly.
She sat up, locking eyes with Simon by the door. He’d noticed the squirrel too.
Nancy didn’t dare speak. Lowering her head, she sent him a message on her phone: "I’ve been feeding this squirrel since I moved in. It’s clever. If it’s scratching my window, something must be wrong. The killer might be coming upstairs!"
Simon read it without hesitation. Silently, he crept behind the door.
He texted back: "Hold the stun baton. Protect yourself. Leave the rest to me."
Sliding his phone away, Simon’s handcuffs glinted coldly in the moonlight.
Nancy shrank against the bed, gripping the stick until her knuckles whitened.
The room was so quiet she could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
Thump, thump—
Minutes stretched into centuries.
Then—zzzt.
The lock rattled faintly, like someone picking it.
Nancy’s nerves went taut!
Click. The lock gave way. The intruder had opened the door!
A shadow slipped inside—only for Simon to strike like lightning.
His strong arm twisted the man’s arm behind his back, and with a crisp snap, the handcuffs clicked shut. In the same motion, Simon slammed him to the ground.
The move was so fluid, so cinematic, Nancy’s eyes went wide with awe.
"Nancy, turn on the light," Simon commanded, pinning the intruder down.
Nancy flicked the switch.
Simon yanked off the man’s mask and cap.
The light revealed sallow skin, a bulbous nose, and a dark mole on his left earlobe. His sinister triangular eyes stared in shock and disbelief.
It was Felix—the A-level fugitive from the wanted poster!
The stun baton clattered from Nancy’s hand. She gaped at his face, blood rushing to her head.
She almost screamed. "Oh my God—five hundred thousand, Simon! We caught him! That’s half a million—we’re rich!"
Her excitement and joy completely drowned out the fear.
Though she’d grown up in a rich family, John had always kept her on a tight leash with money, spending it all on cram schools instead of letting her enjoy it. She had suffered the burdens of wealth without reaping any benefits.
And after being cast out of the Summers family, they hadn’t even paid her for the vaccine research work she’d done, leaving her struggling to get by.
She’d heard that catching an A-level fugitive would earn an officer a reward.
Nancy was practically giddy. "Does this mean you’ll get a promotion and a raise?!"

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