I may not have been in the best mood when I met Robert Muldoon, but I feel like circumstances should excuse my manners. I was flying in a helicopter from Florida to Cuba, after the drive from Montana. The entire time a baby was crying...not softly...shrill cries that pierce your very soul. I was pretty sure that she was possessed. The release of responsibility was within my grasp at last, I tracked down Robert, and he wasn't getting away from me. The helicopter finally landed. I gingerly let go of the rail and check on the baby, she's still screaming.
"She's fine," I grumble to myself. A jeep pulls up with a man in it, we had only been able to give them the short version of what was going on, so I knew there would be questions I had no idea what questions.
"Do you know that you are trespassing on privately owned land?" his abrupt tone took me so off guard that I could only stutter. "We have every legal right to protect our property with force!" By now I had gained my wit enough to understand he was threatening me.
"I'm only looking for Robert Muldoon? I need to talk to him." I was near tears by now it has taken me three weeks to track him down only using his locked cell phone!
"What business do you have with him?"
"Rachel's dead!"
…
It had been three months since I heard that name and even then it was too soon. For five months Rachel this and Rachel that. He only slept with her, it's not like they were ever going to see each other again. I wanted to shoot him everytime he said her name. Now this prissy lady was bringing her up for what reason, and why the hell would she bring her kid?
"So?" Looking back it wasn't the smartest thing to say, but I'm not always smart.
"So? I've traveled three thousand miles looking for this douchebag and you're going to take me to him!" Well she's obviously not a reporter, so why not.
"Alright, get in!"
…
I stiffly got in the jeep, promising myself I would say nothing, and lugging the car seat behind me. After I got her buckled in I glared ahead while the man drove. He was a big man, black with short facial hair. On his hat it said Jurassic Park with the silhouette of a dinosaur, I think it's called a brontosaurus, on it. Makes no sense why a theme park would be so on guard from visitors.
I look outside at the beautiful scenery, even in the mood I was in, it was gorgeous. I was beginning to regret my vow of silence until I looked back at the man and saw him smirking behind his mustache. The drive was long, but I filled my time by tending to Lila, who had finally gone to sleep, thank God. When we pulled up to a large building. The man pulled out a walkie.
"Robert are you on the radio, Rob?" Static for a while until,
"This is Rob"
"Hey some chick is here about Rachel, could you come up to the visitors center?" Static
"I'll be there in twenty,"
"10-4" He puts his walkie away before looking up, "would you like to come inside?" I nod stiffly and walk up the steps. The first thing I see is a large banner with red letters on a black background that says "WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH." Under it is a skeleton of another brontosaurus. All around are other skeletons and plaques describing the dinosaurs.
"Is this place a museum?" The man smirked again making me hate him more.
"Nope," he says matter-of-factly. I scowl and mumble under my breath. Setting Lila down as softly as I can before looking up again. Walking around and reading the plaques ignites my imagination, I'd always had a little kid's interest in dinosaurs. Just not enough to pursue it. The sounds of a Jeep comes too quickly and I rush back to the entrance.
"I really should speak to him alone," He shrugs and walks off with his hands in his pockets. The door opens and a tall man with a rugged look walks in. He's tan wearing khaki shorts and a tan button up shirt. "Mr. Muldoon?"
"Yeah, where's Cal?" He has an Australian accent, I assume Cal is the man who drove me here.
"I asked him to leave this is some serious business." He nods and motions to a table. I don't want to wake Lila so I leave her where she is. "I'm sorry to tell you, by Rachel Tallinn is dead." I wait for his reaction, his stony eyes soften for a moment before they steel up again.
"So why are you here? I only knew her for a month."
"I, well her last request was for me to find you and ask you to take care of your child." This time his reaction is obvious. He exhales loudly and his hands clench.
"I can't, I mean how, I mean why me?"
"She had no family." I get up to go get Lila he sits muttering to himself. As soon as I unbuckle the car seat the soul piercing screams start again.
"I don't want it, I'm sorry I can't take a child, I'm too busy." He looks away from the baby and me and starts to walk away. All of my frustration boils and explodes in one fatal swoop.
"YOUR GOING TO DOOM THIS BABY TO SOCIAL SERVICES WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT HER? I'VE SPENT THREE WEEKS TRYING TO FIND YOU USING NOTHING BUT YOUR CELL PHONE THE COMPANIES I CALLED WOULD TELL ME NOTHING! THIS DEMON CHILD SCREAMS EVERY TIME I COME NEAR HER AND YOU ARE GOING TO HOLD HER!" I was crying now and practically threw Lila at him, quickly hiding my face.
Something changed, the constant screams were fading. I look up and Robert Muldoon was holding the baby, and looking at her, and very sweetly rocking her. Jealousy surged through me, but just as quickly it dissipated.
"That was an impressive tirade Miss?" I whip around to see a short larger man with white hair and a white beard.
"Ms. Olive, Tami Olive,"
"Well then Ms. Olive would you like to join us for dinner?" It was the first welcome thing I've heard all day, food.
"That sounds amazing."
…
Chicken Alfredo has never been my favorite is always seems so bland. But this is by far the best dish I've ever had. Oh my God it's good, "This is fantastic John."
"Thank you, our new chef does seem to be working out."
"So what is this place, Cal said it wasn't a museum."
"It's a theme park of sorts, really fantastic in my opinion spared no expense," He smile is so big it seems to split his face.
"I'm happy for you then it seems quite the accomplishment. I've always loved dinosaurs." Impossibly his smile got bigger. "So Mr. Muldoon, what exactly do you do here?"
"Ah, Robert here is working on a secret project I don't want the public to know yet." This only heightens my curiosity.
"Well he has to fill out some paperwork telling me what he does." Not technically a lie, he only has to fill it out if he decides to keep Lila.
"I'm the game Warden," looking up for the first time from Lila.
"Ok" I ponder his words for a moment "I saw that a lot of your contact were for animal reserves."
"Yes I grew up around wild animals, hunting and training."
"That sounds interesting, and what about you John?"
"This has been my dream for years, I've created theme parks for about twenty years. But this one is just spectacular."
"When will the public hear about it?"
"Seven or eight more years before we're finished, then we fight the lawyers for another year. Then we go public!" He eyes Robert who is again just staring at Lila. "Alright it's my turn," he reaches out to Lila who is staring at Robert, when she is forced to look at John her face screws up and I know what's coming.
"No, no baby girl don't cry." His comforting is to no avail. Her blood stopping screams begin.
"Here let me see her," Cal walks into the dining room. John hands the baby over who disappears into Cal's dark beefy hands. Cal starts making faces at her. The screams slow until to my astonishment she starts laughing. I can feel my jaw start to drop. She giggles at every new face and when he stops she starts grabbing at his beard. "I hear congratulations are in order." He says around her fingers.
"Not really Cal."
"Come on now we would have a child to corrupt."
"Cal," He practically growled
"Settle down, I'm just saying she might be good for you."
"Cal drop it!" There's an awkward silence until
"Tami do you mind if Robert and I leave for a bit?"
"Of course not."
…
"John I can't take her I'm no father."
"Do you think I was when I got married?"
"At least you were married!"
"Robert I'm not your father but I implore you to at least consider it, a child changes everything." He rolls it over in his mind before
"That's the thing, I don't want things to change."
"Robert, I know that someday you will regret that decision. Please," Robert shakes his head and walks away.
"Whoooo!" Cal lifts the child up towards the ceiling, Lila and Tami are laughing at his antics. "Whoooo!" Something you should know about me is I can tell instantly about people it's a gift, and I knew that Robert would forever wonder about that girl and if he could have made her happy. He didn't know just how happy she would make him.
I don't own Jurassic park