The Mask Slips

Anika met the man in the lobby. He produced papers, custody documents, and photos. “I’m Daniel Rowe. Please, tell me Evan is okay.” He was polished, but Anika noticed the way his eyes darted toward the security desk.

“He’s stable, Mr. Rowe,” Anika said, her voice cool. “But the police have questions about how he ended up in the river.”

Rowe’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “He’s a wanderer. He must have slipped out.”

As they walked toward the ICU, the leopard’s roars became more frantic, muffled only by the layers of brick and glass. When they passed a window overlooking the bay, Rowe flinched. The cat was throwing itself against the fence, its claws shredding the protective tarp.

“That beast should be put down,” Rowe spat, his composure cracking.

“Funny,” Detective Martinez said, stepping out from a side hallway. “The cat only started acting up when you pulled into the lot. And these papers you gave the nurse? The court seal is a high-quality inkjet print. It’s fake.”