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

Jared hefted one can in his right hand and calculated. Distance—thirty-six feet; strike zone—four by four inches, that bit of neck peeking out from beneath the green helmet; wind—none. Jared figured the cop would check his right first, then left. He eased down behind a cardboard display of paintbrushes, good cover.


He’d have less than a second to aim and throw. Jared held the can, curved in his palm. He wanted it to move smoothly, no end-over-end tumble just a silent missile.


The machine gun’s nose eased around the corner first, then the man himself, goggled eyes looking like an insect’s. He turned right, sure enough, and Jared reared back, quick but careful.


The can thunked against the ERT guy’s neck. Jared heard it on the back of his helmet and it caught bare flesh. The guy wavered and went down, his gun clattering against the concrete floor, a small “ooompph” of air puffing from his mouth.


Chapter 94