Everyone knew what happened next would be vital. A tranquilizer shot would take some time to take effect, in which time, Sahara could hurt someone accidentally. Besides, in Sahara’s emaciated condition, too much of the drug could trigger a cardiac arrest. Shooting could only be a last resort.
The first glimpse of the absconding cat came from a teenager livestreaming on his phone. Sahara slipped under a streetlamp, fur shimmering gold. Gasps rippled through the crowd. “There! There she is!” The police raised their weapons instantly. The crowd screamed in unison—half pleading for mercy, half chanting for action. The standoff had begun.