Jurassic World- She's part Raptor.

Chapter32

Owens POV

Our plan was based on the hope that the geneticist responsible for Kylie would try to kidnap or use her in some way. Barry had raised an alarming point at the last meeting. Why would Aldridge create a part human raptor and then just abandon it? It made no sense. That's why we were so certain her accomplice would at least want to see whats happening to her, to ensure Aldridge knew. Saffi had caught a picture of the scientist who came to see Phoenix so we could identify him. Tomorrow, we would find him. 

Soft moonlight lingers on the grass as we walk through the humming park. All the tourists have gone to the hotel or the club near the centre of the island, and now the dinosaurs can be heard. The thrum of their low growls and reptilian swishes coats the night in thrilling electricity. No matter how long I spend here, I will never get used to the sensation of being awoken by the sound of dinosaurs roaring, of walking through a field knowing that not 10 metres away from me prehistoric, extinct animals are roaming. Hardwick's sturdy boots steadily thud beside me as we walk towards the raptor enclosure, where my bike is parked. We walk in silence relishing the cool night air, and I wonder what he is thinking. Poor guy's probably wondering what the hell he walked into. Something Saffi told me comes to mind.

"Is it true that the triceratops babies unsuitable for riding are euthanised?" At the sound of my voice Hardwick jumps a little, but as he registers my words, he looks away. 

"So you saw him then, did you? His name's Peanut."

"I didn't, but Saffi did." Anger grips my stomach. "You allow them to be taken away and killed once they've served their purpose?" I can hear my voice rising, and in the distance I hear the escalating growls of the raptors. He turns to me in shame, but then defiance takes over.

"You think I want this? I raise them from when they are babies! But there's nothing I can do! Trainers before me have spoken out, and if you don't comply, you get fired. You know as well as I do that there is a long line of people itching to take our spots, to be dinosaur trainers, I simply do as they ask."

At this bile rises in my throat. The fact that he would allow them, the animals he raised, to be treated like this and not speak out over a job is something I didn't expect from him. There is always a way to do the right thing. I take a step back.

"I see. If you don't want to come tomorrow because this is obviously something that would put your precious job at risk, I understand." It surprises me how detached my voice sounds despite the storm boiling inside me. He looks to the ground, at least having the decency to have some semblance of shame. As I turn away towards my bike, I hear him mumble,

"You don't understand. You can't."

****

The next morning, I meet Clare, Mr Masrani and the others at the genetics facility. As we are about to walk in, I see Hardwick come, half jogging to reach us. 

"You were right. It was wrong, so wrong for me to not say anything. I want to, I'm going to make it right somehow," he mumbles, half pleading, "I want to help Kylie." The others turn to me in surprise and I tell them that now's not the time to discuss this. I wish I had known about the triceratops before I told him. I can't trust him, not anymore but I can't take back what he knows, so it's better he's helping us. We all walk into the the lab, Masrani taking us straight to Wu's lab. 

"For god's sake, you're back again? I told you everything I know, come back when there's something that actually concerns me, " he sneers. Masrani ignores this and thrusts the picture under Wu's face. 

"Who is he?" he growls. Wu grudgingly looks down at the picture, and relents. 

"I believe he works in pterodactyls, I saw him last week for a project." At this he frowns, "I'm surprised that you want to see him, he's been with us for ages and I've never had trouble from him," his eyes turn back to his computer, "The file for pterodactyl geneticists is over there, now if you'll excuse me." 

I suppose it makes sense. A geneticist who's been here for a while, who knows how the park runs, who probably knows many of the raptor geneticists, he would be useful to Aldridge. Maisie flicks through the file in the record drawer, and stops when she sees him. His name is Richard Leazes.

****

"I don't know who this Sarah Aldridge is! I work with the pterodactyls!" I massage my forehead in frustration and face the corner of the pristine room. Everyone's gathered in Claire's office, where Masrani has been trying to make him talk for the past ten minutes. I've had enough. 

"So what were you doing outside Phoenix's cage last night!" I yell, my face inches from his.

"I-I wanted to see her. I love the raptors, but I work on dumb bloody pterodactyls! If you must know, I went to see her because I was jealous! Jealous because I could never make her, no matter how hard I try! I'm jealous." His downcast eyes made his words seem earnest, and the lines left his forehead. He looked pitiful.

"I don't think it's him." Maisie sighed from the corner, stepping forwards. "He obviously doesn't seem to know what's going on, and I believe him."

"What! He's obviously lying, I mean look at him! He's just putting on a show!" Hardwick retaliated, "Sarah obviously chose him to kidnap Kylie off the streets because he knew that someone homeless would be less missed! I'm certain of it." All eyes were now on Hardwick.

"Hardwick, " I began quietly, "How do you know Kylie was homeless. Even we didn't know that, yet you stated it as a fact." 

His eyes widen, realisation glistening on his face.