The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Little Crow never made an appearance.

Nina began to wonder if perhaps she hadn’t brought enough coins to entice the bird. She rummaged through her pockets, but all she could find was the envelope Tommy had handed her as a welcome gift. It felt oddly insufficient for what she needed.

Unbeknownst to her, a pair of small, round amber eyes gleamed from the shadows nearby, silently observing her every move.

Pulling out a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill, Nina frowned, trying to figure out how she could exchange it for some shiny coins that might catch the crow’s attention.

Without warning, Little Crow swooped down with a sudden burst of wings and snatched the bill straight from Nina’s hand.

She stared up, stunned. The crow was now perched atop a trash can beneath a nearby tree, clutching the bill as if it were a priceless treasure.

Nina couldn’t believe what had just happened—she’d been robbed by an animal. And not just any animal; this crow seemed to understand the true value of a hundred-dollar bill. She guessed the coin she had tossed earlier hadn’t been enough to impress it.

Watching closely, Nina saw Little Crow hop over to a shiny coin lying on the ground. The bird picked it up carefully with its tiny claws and tucked it securely under its wing.

Squatting down, Nina fixed the crow with a pointed look. “Alright, you’re a real money grubber. Nothing escapes those greedy little claws of yours.” Then, more seriously, she added, “Since you took my cash, you owe me some help. Deal?”

Little Crow blinked back at her with wide, innocent eyes. It cocked its head as if utterly confused by her words.

“Cut the act,” Nina said, holding up the sketch of the killer. “You followed that guy, didn’t you?”

The crow glanced at the drawing, its beady eyes lighting up with interest.

Nina waved another hundred-dollar bill like a tempting lure.

The moment Little Crow spotted the cash, it dropped the innocent act. “Yeah, I followed him!” it squawked, lunging at the bill with its sharp beak.

Nina pulled her hand back just in time, keeping the money out of reach. “Where did he take the head? I want details.”

The crow’s gaze never left the bill. “I was hoping for a fresh brain feast last night, so I tailed the guy all the way. Turns out, he didn’t dump the head like I thought. He took it down to the basement of some abandoned construction site.”

“As soon as he shut the door, I knew my buffet plans were ruined, so I flew back.”

Nina’s eyes brightened. “Where’s this construction site?”

The crow’s eyes darted nervously. “You really planning to go there alone? That place is way out in the sticks and creepy as hell.”

Nina was about to say she’d call the cops, but then hesitated. *If they ask where I got this tip… how on earth do I explain I bribed a crow?* she thought, frowning at the dilemma.

Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a call from Simon. His voice held a note of worry. “Nina, where are you? Why aren’t you home yet?”

A warm glow spread through her chest. “I’m at Forest Isle Zoo, Simon,” she said, sharing the strange events she’d encountered since starting her job.

Simon’s tone remained uneasy. “It’s late. Stay put. I’m coming to get you.”

Nina blinked in surprise. “Don’t you have work tomorrow?”

Simon chuckled, a rare sound from him. “Didn’t I just close a big case? The guys at the station finally gave me some time off.”

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