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

“It’s a petition from two of the neighborhood associations, Thousand Oaks and Otter Creek Estates. They’re informing us that we’re no longer wanted in the neighborhood and that they’ll be ‘seeking legal representation to request rezoning of the property to RO-1, effective immediately.’ Which means they want residential properties only, single-family homes, no trailers, no business entities.”


“And no big cats,” Steve chimed in.


“Can they do that?” Katherine’s voice was tired, but Peter heard something else in it he didn’t like. Hope.


“I don’t know,” Peter answered. “I didn’t study law in school.”


“No, you studied zoology, and look where it’s gotten you.” Katherine again, claws out this time. A few seconds of paralyzed silence.


Little Steve looked at Peter and raised his eyebrows. “I think I’ll take my lunch outside. Later, folks.” He shook more fried rice onto his plate and left.


Chapter 55