Cut and Run 6 - Stars and Stripes

finally withdrew his fingers, and they moved on. Barnum followed them, eyes on Ty, making a variety of sounds, like he was trying to talk to them. When they passed the end of his enclosure, the tiger stood on his back feet and propped himself on the fence, grasping at the chain link as he watched them walk away. Ty glanced back at him, and Zane knew the look in his partner’s eyes. He had a feeling they might be back here after all.
    “Go on,” Ty said to the tiger, waving a hand at it.
    The tiger made a grunting sound and dropped back to all fours, then sat and watched them walk away.
    When they reached the final pen, where Hansel and Gretel had been housed, Ty and Zane circled the exterior once, looking for any evidence of a break-in. But the hard-packed dirt was so full of footprints and wheel tracks it was impossible even for Ty to follow their story.
    Zane shivered as a lion roared in the distance.
    Ty knelt to examine the lock on the door. “It hasn’t been picked.”
    Zane turned to Tish. “How many people have access to the keys to these cages?”
    “Oh, every staff member and intern has a master key. In case of emergencies, of course.”
    “Interns stay on the premises?”
    “Yes.”
    “How long are they here?” Ty asked.
    “Six-month stints. Most of them go on to work at zoos. Some stay here.”
    Ty dragged his fingers through the dirt, then stood. “What sort of preparation do they need for the internship?”
    “Most are getting their Master’s degrees.”
    “So, not an easy thing.”
    “No.”
    “When did this batch get here?”
    “Last month. Why?”
    Ty and Zane shared a look. That was when the problems had started.
    “We’re going to need a list of all your employees,” Ty said. “Especially the interns.”
    Tish pressed her hand to her chest. “You don’t think someone who worked here would do this, do you?”
    “Anything’s possible,” Zane said. At this point, even she was a suspect.
    Ty peered off toward the east. “How far are we from the perimeter?”
    “Oh, roughly half a mile. We try to pad the cages with some acreage, just in case.”
    Ty smiled gamely and nodded.
    “What are these numbers at the bottom of all the plaques?” Annie asked, pointing at the plaque for Hansel and Gretel.
    “Those are the costs of keeping them healthy and happy. The first number is monthly, the second yearly, and the last is a lifetime estimate based on a twenty-year lifespan. We rely heavily on donations. You can even adopt one of the animals to ensure it’s taken care of.”
    “Admirable,” Zane said. He watched his sister, who was not only a veterinarian but also an animal activist. She was heavily involved with the local humane societies, and her home was full of adopted strays.
    “I’d love some information on your programs,” Annie said as she and Tish headed back toward the main facility.
    Mark followed them, shaking his head.
    Ty stood next to Zane, looking around with narrowed eyes.
    “What?”
    “I just . . . if I’m busting in here to catnap two tigers, I’m going to be prepared, you know?”
    “Of course.”
    “Plaques say these two tigers topped out over four-hundred pounds each. And you know they had to be tranquilized. They’re not just going to waltz out of here on a leash.”
    Zane sighed. “We’ll get the details on all the tranquilizers in the facility. Stuff like that is heavily monitored. If any is missing, it’s a solid lead. And if there’s not any missing, we might be able to canvas the local vets and suppliers.”
    Ty made a clicking sound with his tongue, his hands on his hips as he watched the others walk off. “And we’ll track down any SUVs or trucks the facility has on site. We also need to locate every key in the place and vet all the employees.”
    “We have absolutely no jurisdiction here,” Zane warned. “If anyone kicks up a fuss, we’re done.”
    Ty nodded. “We’ll cross that cattle guard when we get there,” he said, then headed off after the others.
    “You’ll have to ride a horse to do it.”
    “Shut up.”
    Zane hung back, watching his partner go. Something about the way Ty moved—the roll of his shoulders, his easy gait—had always reminded him of a large cat in the wild. Ty fit in here more than he’d probably want to admit. Zane smiled and hurried to catch up.
    When they walked past Barnum and Bailey’s cage, Barnum shadowed Ty the entire way. Ty let his fingers slide against the chain link, stopping to rub