Colin hadn’t been coherent enough to think about the fact that they had a long drive outside the metro area. At least they were on the west side of town right now, putting them closer to Tillamook. A helicopter could get them there faster, but there wasn’t any place in the area where one could put down other than on the road. Besides, it would draw attention to their arrival, and if they were going to take on both Albertelli and Tarver, Colin and the guys would likely need the element of surprise.
Still, they were an hour away from taking anyone down.
They raced for the elevator, their footfalls pounding on the tile floor. Inside, Colin looked each guy in the face. “No matter what we do, we need to pray that Brooklyn has an hour to wait for us to get to her.”
Brooklyn was trying to stall. Move slowly but not anger Kane or Luka. A fine line to balance as Kane had snapped at her a few times while they got Sumo ready to move. Sure, she was simply putting off the inevitable. Her fate appeared to be sealed. Death by Jaguar. Unless God intervened in the last minute. He could still decide to rescue her. Like He saved so many people in the Bible.
Luka went to the truck and took out a soft-sided red case that held a tranquilizer gun. “Rocco and I’ll be over here. Try to unleash the animal on us, and we’ll take him down, then you both will follow.”
Rocco drew his handgun as if for emphasis that Brooklyn didn’t need to be made clear. Though honestly, death by a bullet would be preferable to dying by a jaguar attack. So maybe she should be thinking about how to make that happen.
“Now get to it.” Luka waved the red case.
She wanted to get her hands on it in the worst way. She could use the tranquilizers on both the four legged beast as well as the two legged ones.
“Okay,” Kane said from where he stood near the pacing cat’s crate door. “When I get Sumo into the enclosure, Brooklyn, you close the door behind him.”
She looked dubiously at the door that swung inward into the enclosure. Kane had backed the trailer up to the wide gate,leaving zero space between the crate and the enclosure. No way she could close the door without going inside. Maybe that was Kane’s plan, but she doubted it as he would want the cat to be safely inside when he attacked her so he could watch from the outside where he would be protected.
“And just how do you suggest I close it?” she asked.
“Use the rope I tied on it. I’ll open the crate, prod Sumo out, and keep him from coming back in the crate. Then once he clears the gate, you tug it closed. Grab the rope now so you’re ready.” He stared at her until she picked up the heavy rope.
“Be ready because he’s not going to like me prodding him and might fight to stay in the crate.”
She nodded, looking at the big animal pacing the small space as if he knew they were planning to irritate him.
“Ready?” Kane asked.
How did she answer? Was anyone ever ready to try to slam a door behind a wild and irritated jaguar?
“I asked if you’re ready,” he snapped.
“Ready.” She twisted the rope around her hand.
He grabbed the plastic bag he’d gotten from the refrigerator and took out large steaks. He placed a thick slab of red meat near the crate door and then tossed a few on the ground in the enclosure, each further out than the next. A perfect trail for Sumo to follow.
The jaguar pounced on the one at the mouth of his crate. Kane pushed up the door latch with a long metal pole.
Sumo grabbed the steak and dragged it to the corner.Yes, stay inside, Sumo. You don’t want to hurt me, do you?
She resisted pumping up her fist as the jaguar did just the opposite of what Kane and Luka might want.
Kane cursed and tossed another steak in the doorway, then stood back. Sumo gobbled down the first steak and went for the new piece of bloody red meat at the door.
Kane got behind the big cat and jabbed the tip of the pole into his back.
He turned and roared at Kane.
He didn’t back down or even look afraid, but he crouched in pounce mode. Kane stood his ground and tapped the floor by the meat, redirecting the jaguar’s attention as a parent might do with a toddler.
Sumo clamped his monstrous jaws on the steak and leapt out into the enclosure with the meat dangling to the side of his mouth. He stopped in the gateway to consume the steak with sloppy, noisy chewing, then promptly snatched up the next one. And the next one. And finally, the one that had him clearing the gate.
She had to force her mind not to imagine him chomping down on her in the same way.
“Close it now!” Kane yelled.
She pulled and dragged the heavy metal toward the trailer. The edge caught on the ground, and she had to dig deep to get it moving again. She planted her heels and jerked hard until it inched forward, then broke free. Her injured ribs screamed, and she had to pant to breathe, but she jerked the latch side to the pole.
