She didn’t answer directly. “There are times when it’s necessary. There are injuries and illness, even tooth removal, and the vets have to—”
“But not a humble tech and not alone,” he said softly. “That’s why you had to do it in the middle of the night. What were you up to, Margaret?”
She stared at him with exasperation. She had hoped not to get into this. “I’m a tech, but I’m not humble. And I wasn’t doing anything to hurt Zaran or the cub.”
“I misspoke. You’re definitely not humble. Zaran?”
“The tigress. They were having problems getting her to accept her cub. She had trouble at birth and she didn’t see him for three days. When they were introduced, she totally rejected him. She thought he wasn’t hers and refused to feed him. She even tried to attack him once. I had to convince her that she was wrong.”
“And your method was to throw them together and then crawl into the tigress’s cage yourself? I really don’t believe that would meet with the vet’s approval.”
“Perhaps not. It seemed the thing to do at the time.”
“Why?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes, I find it does.”
“I had to be ready to try to save the cub if Zaran decided that she didn’t believe me when I told her that the cub was hers.” She stiffened, waiting for the response.… Laughter? Bewilderment? Ridicule? She had heard them all.
She hadn’t heard this one.
“Interesting,” he said quietly. “I thought it might be something like that. But, of course, the chance you took was completely irrational.”
Her eyes widened. “You thought that it—” She stopped and said carefully, “Would you care to explain?”
“Yes.” He smiled. “Though you’re interfering with my Q-and-A time. I couldn’t have tracked you down if I hadn’t talked in depth to the people with whom you interacted. And the jobs you took always were connected with caring for animals. I heard a few amazing and often unbelievable stories about your skill and bonding with them. You tried to be careful and discreet, but a few of your employers still thought you were some kind of witch doctor. That you actually knew what an animal was thinking, that you could communicate with them. I found it completely absurd, of course. But it was hard to dismiss.” He tilted his head. “And then I found my way to Summer Island and I thought; maybe not absurd at all.”
“Why?”
“Because it was the perfect place for you, an experimental research facility that was only interested in extending the life span and intelligence of dogs. You fit right in during the time you were there. You felt free to meld with those dogs you began to love. The vets and techs noticed you were different, of course, but they were receptive, not critical, and you were very content. At least everyone thought you were.” His brows lifted. “Was it true?”
“It’s true,” she said curtly. “But Devon never told you any of that stuff about me.”
“No, she was very loyal and discreet. But I had a few hours with your fellow techs, and they weren’t as closemouthed. They admired and liked you, but when you don’t understand something, you tend to want to discuss it. I was glad to furnish a sounding board.”
“I imagine you were. Why? My life at Summer Island had nothing to do with Stan Nicos.”
“I had to know everything about you. I knew you were going to be difficult.” He shrugged. “Though I admit I was a bit stunned when I found out that you might have a mental connection with certain animals. I thought it was only dogs, until I witnessed your session with those tigers. Any other kind of bonding?”
She might as well answer him. She could see that he wasn’t going to let her avoid the subject. “Yes,” she said reluctantly. “Some are easier than others.” Her gaze suddenly flew down the deck to Cambry. “Does he know?”
“No, for some reason I didn’t feel I wanted to share it. I wanted it to be between us.”
“It’s not between us. And I can’t share it. It’s mine alone. That’s the way it is. And you’re taking this entirely too receptively. Why?”
“I traveled all over the Middle East while I was in the service. I’ve seen everything from snake charmers to Buddhist monks training their animals to do amazing feats. But I don’t believe I’ve ever run across someone like you, Margaret.”
“Lucky you.”
“Not so lucky.” He looked out at the sea. “And you’re not all that lucky, either. It had to be difficult for you to cope with a gift like that.”
“Why?” She made a face. “Because everyone thinks you’re either lying or crazy? I learned that very young. My mother died when I was born and my father let DEFACS take care of me until I was four. But then he petitioned to get me back because of the welfare checks. He was neither understanding nor forgiving of having a kid who told the next-door neighbors she knew their dog was sick because he told her so and that they should take him to the vet. He beat me every time I said something that made him uncomfortable or that he couldn’t accept. I learned very fast, Lassiter.”
“Bastard,” he said roughly. “Wasn’t there anyone you could go to for help?”
“Not at the time. Later. But it was okay. I got along fine.”
“Yeah, sure. When did you even realize you could communicate with animals?”
“I always knew. I thought everyone could do it. Of course, the people in the orphanage just thought I was a little wacko. There was a marmalade cat named Tamby who lived in the alley in back of the orphanage and visited every day for scraps. And then there were birds, who weren’t nearly as interesting, but they saw all kinds of wonderful things when they were flying that they just took for granted. I spent a lot of time listening and watching them.” She shrugged. “But they got pretty bored with me. I guess three-year-olds who were locked up in an orphanage didn’t have much to offer. But none of the personnel at the orphanage seemed to think much about it. I guess kids who were as alone as we were often had imaginary friends.”
“I suppose that’s definitely a possibility,” he said quietly.
“Anyway, it wasn’t until I had to go to my father that I knew I could be punished for it. And, once I understood, most of the time I could avoid it. And then when I was eight, I ran away from home to escape from him and lived in the woods for a while.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I was safer there than anywhere else. Like I said, I got along fine.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“You should. I was better off there than I would have been at home with my father or in a child services facility.”
“Why? The woods? Give me a break. The entire idea is bizarre. If I didn’t realize that your recent background is just as bizarre, I’d have trouble believing it.”
“Then don’t believe it.”