Chapter 11.

"Everything alright?" Root asks.

"Yeah, Claire's gone home. Wasn't feeling too good," Owen exits the elevator alone, hands in his pockets. "What've you found?"

"We got statements from some other associates of John Hammond, people who he invited to the opening of the original Park, and we've cross referenced them with the InGen list circa 1993. There seems to be discrepancies."

"Like what? I thought Hammond would've overseen all the scientific stuff."

"He did, but InGen must've abused it and used it for their own gain. It's the only way to explain this, I guess."

"What sort of stuff are we talking about?"

Root waves the raptor trainer over to the screen, pointing to a scanned handwritten letter.

"We interviewed multiple sources; Alan Grant and Ian Malcolm were at the opening of the original Park, and they listed all of the animals that they came into contact with."

Root waves his hand, and another, yellower piece of paper appears.

"There're two lists on each?"

"Yeah, one from here, Isla Nublar, and one from Site B: Isla Sorna."

"I've heard of Site B, but I never thought anyone had been there."

"Nope. Ian Malcolm went there first. Remember that incident in San Diego? That was the cause of it. Then, a few years later, Grant was blackmailed into going there to help a couple find their lost son. But take a look at the lists."

Owen's eyes scan the adjacent lists. His brow furrows.

"They seem to like making raptors, but here…" he points to the scanned letter from an Alan Grant, "this guy says he saw a Spinosuarus but this Malcolm doesn't."

"Little strange, isn't it? We asked others who were on the trips with the Dr's, and they say the same."

"So where did it come from?"

"The only place that it could have come from: a lab."

"So, you're saying that InGen have been manufacturing dinosaurs for years and what? Dumping them on Site B?"

"No, I'm thinking that that's where they've settled. Think about it. No sane person is going to go on a dinosaur infested island to find them, plus they act as guard dogs. It's close so it'd be easy to evacuate in case of an emergency. Overall, a perfect site…if they can handle the inhabitants."

"You seem to have figured this out really quickly."

"In truth, we've had this data for a few weeks, but I was informed by Mr Cartwright that you were tailing her and he wanted all known associates of Jurassic World somewhere where he could keep a close eye on them."

"You jackass!"

He grabs the Root's shirt and effortlessly pins the scrawny man against the wall.

"Why wasn't I told about this?"

"Cartwright wanted you here…he kept his side of the deal," Root squirms, wriggling in his grasp.

"The deal was to keep the animals safe, not manipulate people to come here against their will."

"No, that was your job, not mine. You chose to bring people here, including Ms Dearing. Think of the bigger picture. They can't get to you. You and everyone close to you is safe."

"She was safe, she was anonymous until I was informed to bring her in."

"As much as you don't like it, we needed her. Those files that she's given us will help convict those who're responsible. Now, if you don't mind," he prizes Owen's hands off his shirt and thuds to the ground. "We all have responsibilities, Mr Grady. Mine was to get you both here unscathed and collect as much evidence as possible. I'm sorry if that clashes with your own code, but we have to do things in order to progress forward."

"That was InGen's philosophy. Act first, consider all other aspects later."

"Yes, and now they're ten steps ahead, so you can see why we're anxious to catch up."

"Root's a jackass," Owen calls out, closing the front door to his cabin. "I could've broken his scrawny little neck, what an absolute-"

He rounds the corner to see Claire, cocooned in several blankets, asleep.

"Oh shit," he whispers.

He removes his thick soled boots and tiptoes to the kitchen in search of food. He'd leant Barry his shack when he went off island, and so the rooms smelt faintly of his cheap aftershave and his favourite beer – one which Owen had never acquired a taste for. Opening the fridge, a row of brown bottles greets him, with some mouldy cheese and eggs which are probably a week past their use by date. He pops the cap off one of the beers and takes a sip.

"Eugh," he scrunches his face up…but beer is beer.

The liquor adds to the sicken feeling churning in the depths of his stomach.

"Best interests, my ass," he mutters, dribbling some beer down his chin.

He presses his free hand on his jeans pocket, feeling his phone underneath the fabric.

Should I?

He slides his hand inside, before retrieving it and swiftly dialling the number that he'd committed to heart.

There was a light drizzle outside, but nothing to hinder Owen as he finally got hold of Cartwright.

"Owen…I'm glad to hear from you."

"Tell that to your voice, Leonard. Root's told me about the accounts," Owen snaps.

"Ah right."

"Is that it? Ah right. You have no idea what you're putting us under here, things have just got ten times worse and you've put her in the last place she wants to be!"
"I thought that you said that she could cope."
"Yeah, that was before, but now…"

"As long as you are there, you're safe. InGen can't snap anyone up and use them as bargaining chips," Leonard replies. "I'm sorry that this is putting a strain on your relationship-"

"Don't," he interjects. "If anything, you should be apologising to Claire. She's the one who's being blindly dragged through it all."

"Owen, please let me assure you that this was never meant to happen-"

"No, you know what happened the last time people kept information like this hidden? People died. Innocent people, so don't go panning this off on someone else, 'cause you're the only one to blame here."

He quickly presses the red button.

Why'd I ever trust that guy?

He combs his damp hair with his hand, making the fabric of his shirt cling to his arm.

A red streak slowly paints itself across the sky; the rain begins to subside, only rarely disturbing the puddles in the grass. Owen shifts on the step and sets down the now flat beer. He loved this spot once. His trailer was out of the way of the Park's visitors and workers so the only sounds you could hear were Mother Nature's creations. They weren't manufactured or made for profit. They just lived. Since his return, no mammals or reptiles from this millennia had crossed his path.

Blue must've had fun those first few months.

"Owen?"

"Hey," he shifts aside, allowing her to sit beside him.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing much," he says, absently picking at an elongated nail. "You feeling better? I know not better better, but…okay?"

She nods.

"Yeah…ish."

"Good," he smiles.

I've gotta tell her.

"Look, there's something that you need to know…and I swear that I wasn't told this before."

"If I'd've been told, I swear I would've said something."

"I know you would've, but…we're here now and, as much as I don't like it, if we can put things to rest the better. Like you said on the way here. InGen can pay and we can go back to our lives."

"But if it gets too much…please tell me."

"I will."

"We should have a code word or something."

"Or not."

"Aw…that's a bummer. Are you hungry?"

She nods her head.

"C'mon, I make a mean fish pie," he taps his thigh before rising to his feet and offering his hand.

Claire takes it and pulls herself up.

"Yeah, I just need to get the fish…and the veg."

"You wanna go to that joint on Main Street?"

"Are you sure you're ready to go back there?" he asks cautiously.

"Yeah, why?"
"It's just you…" he trails off.

"I'm okay now, alright. That feeling…it's gone for now, let's just enjoy the evening, if we can."

"Sure, I'm good with that."
I just don't want to push it, that's all.

"I'll drive, just need to freshen up and," he pulls his sleeve up to his nose and takes a sniff, "yeah…definitely change this shirt."

"Mmm," Claire agrees, "and this time, let's stay away from the alcohol."

He flashes her a toothy grin.

"If we must," he answers.

"Oh, and I've got to ask, did you really attack Root?"

"Attack is too strong a word," he smiles. "I ruffled him up, but nothing more."

"Hmmm."

"Well, he deserved it."

She sighs and shakes her head.