Blitzo Walker was Edward Hamiliton's new lawyer. He was hired by Professor Stolas Goetia to managed Dr. Hamiliton's will and the legalities of his work and equpiment. On the tenth anniversary of Dr. Hamiliton's death, he and Professor Goetia were contacted by two of the doctor's former colleagues. Vox Perkins a computer programmer and Valentino Bodine a geneticis. The produced written journal entries explaining that Dr. Hamiliton had wanted to share his discoveries on the Binominal Island with the world and they suggested honring his wish but returning to the island andm aking it into a profitable theme park.
"I don't recall Edward mentioning such things." Stolas had said. "True he was astonished by the wildlife as was I, but he didn't want us to collect any live specimens."
"Exactly." Valentino said. "He thought it would be cruel to take those glorious creatures from their habitat, but he still felt that the world should know of their magnificent existence. So instead of bringing them to the world, we'll bring the world to them."
"Unfortunately we can't get back to that island without Dr. Hamiliton's research and we'll need his equipment as well, but his will says we can't use either without his permission." Vox said. "And we were wondering Mr. Walker if there was some legal way around that? He is dead after all so we can't exactly ask for his permission."
"In cases like this, you can get permission from his next of kin." Blitzo said. "Dr. Hamiliton has a son but I don't know if he'd actually allow you to use anything of his father's."
"If he gave us permission to use his father's research and equipment, then he would inheirit the results. He would be made owner of the theme park which would make him a very rich man."
"And if you as the family lawyer, were to handle the legalities as well as convinicing our CEO to invest in it." Valentino added. "You'd probably be just as rich."
Now he had Blitzo's attention.
"Interesting offer, but what's in it for you two?"
"We just want to fullfil the dreams of our old friend."
"Let me guess, you want to be made co-owners?"
"Well we scientists have to make a living too. Right Stolas?" Valentino asked. "How much is your ex wife asking for in alimony again?"
"Willl you kindly leave my divorce out of this?" Stolas asked.
"I'm just saying, your daughter wants to go college right? And with those alimony charges piling up, her education won't be very cheap."
"What exactly do you want from me?"
"We're going to need a botanist on this trip. Help us out and we'll make sure that you get a cut that will put your daughter through any university she chooses."
"Well first off all, there's no garantee that you'll have any say in the money." Blitzo said. "It'll be up Dr. Hamiliton's son weather or not you two become co-owners."
"So we'll convince him to give us the job." Vox said. "But for now, see if you can get the doc's son and Mr. Pentious interested in our little project."
"Okay but one more thing, this island is safe right?" Blitzo asked. "These animals aren't any threat to humanity are they?"
"No more dangerous than the average wild animal, and but they're especially shy and avoid humans." Vox said. "In other words, they won't bother us if we don't bother them. Right Stolas?"
"Well I couldn't say for certain." Stolas said. "I don't recall any animals attacking us. But I wasn't studying the animals at the time. I was studying the plants."
"I was with Dr. Hamiliton during his studies of the fauna." Valentino said. "I can assure you, we have nothing to fear from them."
Blitzo agreed to the offer, Stolas was still skeptical. He couldn't remember any danger taking place on the island when he went there last time but three people had gone missing there. On the other hand though, more twenty people had gone missing in a shopping mall. And with his daughter Octavia close to graduating high school and his ex wife suing him for every penny he had, he needed money fast. So eventually he agreed to go along with it too.
"One more thing." Valentino said. "While we're at it, we should probably bring a zoologist with us to catalog and record information on each species. I know of one who'd be perfect for the job."
Valentino produced a photo graph of Charlotte Morningstar and a file on her education and her work at Animal Haven.
"Looks qualified to me." Blitzo said.
"She sure is young though." Stolas said. "Fresh out of college. Wouldn't someone more experinced be better suited for this?"
"She's had plenty of experience. She works in a rescue and return center. She's been to countless regions. Not tom ention, I hear that she has been eager for an opportunity like this." Valentino said.
Shortly afterward Blitzo proposed the idea to Dominick Pentious, CEO to the company which they worked for. He agreed to pay for all the expensives and invest if he liked what they found. Later he sent an email to Moxxie and phoned Charlie. The next day they arrived for a meeting to discuss the project.
"Your father was a brillant man Mr. Hamiliton." Blitzo said. "One who made many fantastic discoveries, and according to his journal entries he wanted to share them with the world."
"Share them how?" Moxxie asked.
"He wanted to construct a theme park on this island. Make it into a zoo where people could come from all over and see these animals. Be witnesses to such a miracle of nature."
"Zoos mean cages." Charlie said. "I won't be apart of that."
"Oh no it won't actually be like a zoo Miss Morningstar." Blitzo said. "No cages. It would be a wildlife preserve. This is not only to provide a way of sharing a new form of nature, but also as a protected home. No doubt poachers will eventually disocver this place and they'll see the value of these rare creatures. They won't hesitate to shoot them or put them in a cage. But we clould hire a large number wildlife police to protect the animals, and any containment we'd use would be to contain the tourists from the animals. Not the other way around."
"So they would have safety and freedom?"
"Yes."
"And you want me to help you with the animal study and records?"
"You were highly recommended by Dr. Hamiliton's very own colleagues."
"Really?" She said surprised. "I'm honored but I don't know if I could afford the trip and I would need special eqipment."
"The expenses will be handled by our CEO, as for the equipment, you can use Dr. Hamiliton's if his son permits it." He said turning to Moxxie.
"I don't know about all this." Moxxie said. "I don't know if I can use my father's work for profit. He wouldn't have wanted that. He believed that knowledge should be free to everyone. That it didn't have a price."
"I understand that Mr. Hamiliton but with all due respect, money is a neccessity. We all need it and with you having a wife and kids, you probably need it more than any of us. If the theme park is a success, you'll become the owner of it and your family will never want for anything again."
"What about the three people who went missing on that trip?" Moxxie asked.
Charlie flinched at the mention of it and nervously twisted the ring on her finger.
"Yeah, is that island safe?" She asked.
"I already discussed it with everyone who was that trip. No animals attacked and they try to avoid people. As for the disappearances,the last one was washed away in the storm and the first two went missing because they wandered off without a guide. This time we will have a guide to avoid that."
"The three who went missing, were any bodies found?" Charlie asked. "Did any of the scientists mention that?"
"No. The only body found that night was Dr. Hamiliton's. No one else's but that last one to go missing is no doubt dead. He was knocked right into the rapids."
Charlie gripped her hands together and willed herself not to tremble.
"Neither one of you have to make any decisions today. You can think can take time to think about it." Blitzo continued.
"How long do we have?" Moxxie asked.
"Will a week be enough time?"
"Yes." Both Moxxie and Charlie said.
He handed them each a card with his number on it.
"When you've made your choice, give me a call."
They were dismissed and went home to think about the offer. The first one to greet Moxxie when he came to the house was his nine year old son Max.
"Hey Dad." He said.
"Hi Max, have a good Saturday?"
"Mom wanted me to help her pick out a vacation for us. I think we should go to an amusement park."
"Oh you don't want to go to those son. They have rides that make you throw up, perverts in goofy costumes, rigged games, and scary animatronics."
"But Mom says they're loads of fun."
"That's because your mother has no fear."
"Then can we go to the circus?"
"Your sister's afraid of clowns and the contortionists give me the creeps."
"How about the zoo? Or a water park? Or anything but another museum trip, please Dad?"
"Okay no museum. We'll do something different. I promise."
"Sweet! Mom said we could try camping. Can we?"
"I'll think about it."
"Hey Dad?"
"Yes?"
"Can I have a pet?"
"Quit while you're ahead Max."
Once inside the house, Max went into the living room and looked through his baseball card collection. Across from him sat Maisie who was having a tea party with her toy bunny that she named Fluffles. In the kitchen, Moxxie and Millie were both preparing dinner while discussing what was said at the meeting.
"I think it would be a great idea." Millie said. "With the money you earn from a theme park, we can finally pay off our mortagage and actually afford to send both our kids to college."
"But Millie you know how my father felt about using knowledge for profit."
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind if it was for the good of his son and his grandchildren. Knowledge meant a great deal Edward but his family always came first."
"I guess."
"Is the island safe?"
"Yes. Mr. Walker confirmed that there was no danger. He said that if I agreed to this and all went well it would be a perfectly safe and fun tourist attraction. All they need to do is chart out the island."
"You know that actually sounds like it would make a wonderful family vacation for us. Maybe we could all go?"
"I don't think so Millie. We don't know what's on that island."
"You said it was safe and it's going to be a theme park anyway. And if you're going to own it, shouldn't you look over the property?"
"But Millie I'm not the outdoors type. And maybe the animals aren't dangerous but that place could be full of germs and viruses."
"Moxxie, you promised Max we'd do something different this year and I love you but you really need to broaden your horizons. You love science and books and music and that's great but that's the only thing you show an interest in. Would it be so bad to step out of your comfort zoen for just a few days?"
"No. I suppose not. I'll think it over."
That night Moxxie thought and thought and thought. On one hand this island was a place he knew very little about and he was by no means an outdoors man. Hell he couldn't even fish properly. But on the other hand, his wife had a point. He had been very close minded lately and his kids were getting bored with the same old vacation they normally took.
Then there was the fact that they were mere weeks away from being evicted from the house and having to live in a shelter or God knows where else, and it would most likely being entire year before he made enough money to pay off that mortagage in time. The very thought of his wife and children sitting on the sidewalk, dirty and holding up signs to beg for food, made him sick.
It one o'clock in the morning when Moxxie made his decision. For the good of his family, he'd grant permission for Blitzo and his associates to use his late father's work. And he would ask if he and his family could accompany them to the island.