Iris Johansen Read Online Free

said solemnly.
    “Pat doesn’t share your views, evidently,” Santine said dryly. “And he knows me better than a good many people. Doesn’t that discourage you, Miss Cannon?”
    It did, but she couldn’t let him know that. “I can’t afford to be discouraged, Mr. Santine,” she murmured. “We must have that land.”
    “That’s a sizable piece of property,” he said cynically. “You do think big, Miss Cannon. Tell me, what worthy organization do you represent?”
    “We’re going to need every acre,” she said solemnly. “It’s not greed, but necessity, that’s driving me to you. I’m a game warden and curator at a wild-animal reserve near San Diego. Our lease has been broken,and we have only another two weeks before we’ll have to start rounding up the animals and shipping them to zoos if we can’t find another home for them.” Her lips tightened resolutely. “I’m not going to let that happen.”
    “A wild-animal reserve,” Santine said slowly. “Yes, you would need a large amount of acreage for that. But why
my
land?”
    “The climate in that area is mild and the terrain basically what the animals are accustomed to at our own reserve,” Janna replied eagerly. “It’s very important that they not be exposed to any abrupt or radical changes. Your property would be ideal.”
    “How kind of you to say so,” Santine said ironically. He strolled over to a huge brown leather easy chair and dropped into it, stretching his legs out lazily in front of him on the matching ottoman. “And why is it so important that these specimens have no shocks to their fragile psyches?”
    Ignoring the mockery in his face, Janna answered swiftly. “Because we’re dealing primarily with endangered species. The reason Professor Sandler first established the reserve was to provide a natural environment to encourage the breeding potential of several species of wildlife that refused to reproduce in captivity. If we can’t find a way of persuading them to mate, there’s a very real possibility that they may soon be extinct.”
    “How regrettable,” Santine said coolly, his impenetrable gaze fixed on her face that was now alight with passion. “It seems to mean a great deal to you, but I don’t see how you can expect me to share your enthusiasm. I can’t say that I’ve ever been overly fond of animals.” One thick dark brow arched mockingly. “I’ve never even kept one as a pet.”
    “You don’t have to be sentimental over animals to admit that we have a duty to preserve them,” she argued desperately. “If you believe that Darwin’s theory of evolution was essentially correct, then youmust believe that we have a responsibility to encourage the evolution of our fellow species. If you believe that God put us in the Garden of Eden for a purpose, then you must know that it’s the gravest of sins to kill off our companions in that garden. Either way, we have a moral obligation that can’t be denied.”
    “That very neatly covers all the bases,” Santine drawled, a glint of admiration in his eyes. “And very eloquently put, too. Your Professor Sandler is obviously a wise gentleman.”
    “He’s quite brilliant and completely dedicated,” Janna said simply. “You couldn’t ask for anyone finer to head a project like this. He’d be happy to come and detail our plans for the new reserve in depth with you.”
    “That’s not necessary. I’m quite content with his deputy,” Santine said, a tiny frown creasing his brow. “Your professor seems to inspire a surprising amount of devotion in his employees. He must be quite a man.”
    Janna nodded eagerly. “Yes, he’s really wonderful, and so worried about the closing of the reserve. We’re staying at a motel in town. May I call him and tell him that you’re at least considering contributing the land?”
    Santine gazed at her for a long moment, his dark eyes veiled and thoughtful. “Yes, I think you could say that I’m considering your request, Miss