“Don’t know. I shot him with my Defender and shoved him back in his patrol car. He left the area a few minutes ago. I’ll track him down later and ensure he doesn’t remember talking to me. But the beast he tranquilized is waking up. I don’t have a shackle sticker with me, so you need to get here right now.”
“I’m on my way.” Cam disconnected the call without fanfare or farewell.
Lucy looked at him sideways. “How will we explainmypresence out here?”
Axel shrugged. “I guess we’ll tell him the truth. We were meeting to discuss Dirk Crusher books, Wyatt saw my vehicle at the Cosmos Café and came in to get my help. I just don’t see the need to involve Valene in this, okay?”
“Fine by me. I’ll try to say as little as possible.”
The beast across the clearing made a grunting noise and its body moved. Lucy leaned forward in her seat. “What kind of animal is it? I didn’t get a good look before you moved the flashlight away.”
“Sand-claw beast. Probably an illegal Alpha-Prime pet left behind when the airship was here last time. It isn’t the first time we’ve had to chase down some rich Alpha’s inappropriate pet that got loose on Earth.”
Her eyes widened. Axel realized he’d sort of insulted her rich family with his vague over-sweeping comment. “A sand-claw beast? Oh no.” Lucy opened her door and headed for the beast, which was getting louder and moving even more.
Axel leapt out of his vehicle and chased after her. “Lucy. Wait! Don’t get too close.”
She had the flashlight in one hand and pressed the button to turn it on. The beam cast a light on the face of the beast. “Oh no.”
“What?” Axel said, skidding to a halt beside her. The beast’s eyes looked wild. Wyatt had hog-tied it, but the ropes didn’t look strong enough to hold the sand-claw beast for very long. Where was Cam? He needed to hurry up and get here.
“It’s Eugene.”
Chapter Fifteen
Lucy pointed the flashlight into the face of her father’s treasured hunting beast. He was mostly awake and already fighting the ropes the sheriff had trussed him up with.
The species wasn’t a traditional choice for a hunting companion, but her father enjoyed the risky pet being part of his life. The looks of fear and admiration from his hunting friends probably were another reason he kept the dangerous beast.
“Eugene,” Axel repeated. “Your pet?”
“My father’s pet.”
They heard the loud rev of an approaching vehicle’s engine. Seconds later, Cam’s vehicle came into view. He skidded to a halt, with his car’s headlights pointing directly at the struggling beast about to break free.
Cam leapt out of his vehicle and approached at a jog as he opened a bag and pulled out a large silver, disc-shaped circle. He raced up to Eugene, who’d managed to get his hind legs free from the ropes. Fearlessly, Cam fell on Eugene’s muscled shoulder and pressed the disc to the animal’s neck. Abruptly, Eugene stopped struggling.
Lucy moved closer. “Eugene.” Cautiously, she touched the top of his head.
The beast lifted its head and looked at her. “Besh-topp-liey!” It was a universal command to settle the animal. She wasn’t certain what a shackle sticker did, but hopefully the command would help calm her father’s pet.
“Eugene? Do you know this beast?” Cam asked.
She nodded. “He’s my father’s hunting pet.”
“Why is Eugene loose on Earth? No, wait. The more important question is why Eugene is on Earth at all?”
She shrugged. “I swear I don’t know. I thought he went back to Alpha-Prime with the staff who didn’t stay behind to help with the wedding.”
“This animal belongs on Alpha-Prime. It should never have been brought here.”
“I agree. But my father didn’t ask me. He rarely asks anyone for permission to do exactly what he wants. You’ll have to take it up with him.”
Cam paused, looking skyward as if he tried to remember something. “I heard a couple of employees of Astro Pet Care whispering this morning like something was wrong with a pet in their care. I meant to go ask for more details. I just realized I never did.”
“Whispering?” Axel asked, brows narrowing. “You think it had to do with Eugene and his Earth adventures.”
