A man. A tiger. A tornado. Jared Montaine owns a big cat rescue in Florida and faces financial pressures, getting over his ex-wife, and the challenge of suburbia creeping ever closer to his enclave for the animals. But when a tornado wrecks part of the refuge, Jared's worst fear comes to life: his Siberian tiger, Sultan, escapes. It's a big cat handler’s nightmare: a tiger on the loose, confused, lost -- and hungry. Jared races against the police, the media, and the hysterical public, all of whom are clamoring for the tiger's hide. He must re-capture Sultan before the cat is killed -- by traffic, by SWAT, or by a civilian who just wants to shoot a tiger. With fellow wildlife handlers at his side, Jared fights desperately to find and capture Sultan before the tiger injures or kills a human. Because that would lead to his worst nightmare -- having to kill the tiger he hand-raised from a cub. Jared’s commitment is tested -- to his animals, his refuge, and his belief that saving the life of even one tiger is worth losing everything.

The Tiger Whisperer

Scott took the notice from Jared. He half-smiled and snapped his metal clipboard shut. “You have thirty days to comply. We’ll be out to re-inspect after that.”


They watched Scott’s truck leave the compound from the office window. Peter focused on Jared. “I know you can’t stand the guy, but don’t antagonize him. Really. He can make it miserable for us.”


“No, he doesn’t. It could be a lot worse, so just lower the volume with him.”


“He pisses me off. We work so hard to keep this place running and he tromps around here like studly hung-so-well, making all his noise with his bullshit, getting the cats all riled up.” Jared picked up a rubber baseball and bounced it a few times against the wall. He blew out a long breath and the tension with it. “You’re right. I’ll let you handle him from now on, how’s that sound?”


And if I were a pitching coach, I wouldn’t have to handle this shit at all.


Peter picked up his clipboard. “Fine by me, boss.”


Chapter 14