FOUR

"I was surprised to receive your call," Dieter Bauer said in his syrupy German accent. He reclined in his high – backed leather chair and laced his fingers over his belly. At forty five, he was still a handsome man; his dark blonde hair was still full but peaked high above his brow, giving prominence to his thick eyebrows and flat, broad nose. His mouth was full and gave him a more compassionate look that belied his reputation as a ruthless businessman. Bauer took a breath. "Given the recent...How shall I say? Unpleasantness… I would have thought you would be the last person who would meet with me."

Hammond tried a smile but somehow couldn't manage and had to make do with a twisted smirk. Bauer was the man who led the charge on InGen's assets when the company finally went under, but it was rumoured that he owned a much larger chunk of InGen than he had declared – it would take an army of lawyers and accountants to work out exactly which if his subsidiary companies did the rest of the scavenging. It was a textbook move that Hammond himself had used many times in the past when he was building InGen.

"I was glad you could find the time to meet me," Hammond replied. "I come on a matter of grave importance."

Bauer raised an eyebrow. "This is the matter that was so grave you could not tell me over the phone?"

"Yes," Hammond's apologetic tone was fading and his confidence returning. "I thought it prudent to speak with you in person as this matter is very delicate and I cannot afford to let this information get out." Hammond had been aware that certain law enforcement agencies had bugged his phone lines at some point between his founding of Jurassic Park and the debacle at San Diego. Bauer gave a gesture that he understood such things. "I have recently discovered that certain rivals of mine have concocted a plan to eradicate the dinosaurs on Site B."

Bauer said nothing for a long time. He slowly sat forward in his chair and fixed Hammond with a look that could penetrate lead. "And what would this have to do with me?"

Hammond sighed impatiently, letting his distaste for this situation seep through. "You would not have gone to the trouble of gobbling up a large chunk of InGen if the creatures on Site B were of no importance to you. The Costa Ricans and the UN will lift the restrictions on human interaction on the island very soon, but believe me; the animals will be dead long before any scientists will be on the ground."

"The dinosaurs technically do not belong to any one entity anymore," Bauer said. He was speaking slowly. He picked up his fountain pen and twirled it end to end between his fingertips. "You and I both know that my company does not have legal claim to the animals."

Hammond shook his head and retrieved his cane from its resting place beside the chair. His eyes blazed with anger as he stood with some difficulty but with his pride intact. "You and I both know you have already manoeuvred your legal teams into place to fight for the right to exploit those creatures when the UN lifts its restrictions. That is the prize that you have chased since the days when Jurassic Park was just a rumour! Why else would you have employed Dennis Nedry to steal the secrets your so – called scientists could not unlock themselves?"

Hammond's outburst made Bauer stand too. "You have no proof of that, Mr. Hammond."

"I don't need proof!" Hammond shouted back. "Nedry's actions caused the deaths of many innocent people at the park and that is something I have had to live with for over ten years," Hammond's voice softened, but only because he tirade had knocked the air out of his lungs. His voice still carried its heat. "Your machinations were at least partly responsible for what happened at Isla Sorna."

"You really believe that?" Bauer's face was unreadable, his voice a monotone.

"I know it and however much you hide behind your plausible deniability, you know it too." Hammond smiled sadly and shook his head. "I told Nedry that I don't blame people for their mistakes, but I do ask that they pay for them."

A thin smile played on the younger man's lips, giving him a wolfish look. He wagged a finger at Hammond. "You'd like the world to believe you are a frail old tycoon who has learned much wisdom from his mistakes," he said slowly. "But the ruthless businessman's heart still beats in your chest. You are no born again conservationist! You want to stop them killing the dinosaurs because you are afraid it will rob you of your legacy to the world."

It took Hammond a long time to consider his response. The German had hit it right on the head. He had spent the years after the San Diego disaster telling the media how much of a changed man he truly was, that he had learned the error of his ways, but there was something deeper and much more human at the heart of his assertions: he didn't want anyone to forget he was the one who achieved the miracle of bringing the beasts to life. It was necessary to shape his legend while he was still alive to do it.

Bauer's vision of the future was entirely at odds with Hammond's; Bauer wanted to display the creatures, make unimaginable sums of money from them, and Hammond wanted to see the creatures live and breathe, undisturbed by the human world. Bauer was the only man he knew that would go to extraordinary lengths to preserve the creatures, and Hammond would have the time to rally public opinion to protect the animals. Hammond was no longer in a position to expect things to bend to his will: A compromise would do.

Bauer was still unconvinced. He studied his fingernails and made a gesture of disinterest. "Your confidence is misplaced, though, Mr. Hammond," He said with some measure of pride. "To think that your visit here might offer me something that I could not already obtain freely. The Chinese are already in the process of developing cloning systems that are quantum leaps ahead of what your scientists achieved at Jurassic Park. The resurrection of dinosaurs is the new space race; more money is being poured into it now than the Human Genome Project."

Hammond knew that he would have to dangle a very large carrot in front if Bauer to get what he wanted. He pretended to consider Bauer's words, then leaned forward. "But I can offer you something that you could not obtain freely, Mr. Bauer: the only thing that you and your vultures were not able to find when InGen went under."

Bauer's show of lazy disinterest evaporated and he stared at Hammond. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean," he said in a tone of voice that assured Hammond he knew exactly what he meant.

Hammond collected his cane and leaned upon it, still staring back at Bauer. "I do believe I need a drink," he said with a smile.

Bauer heaved a sigh and stood up before crossing his office to the polished mahogany bar behind Hammond. The old man stood and joined Bauer, perching himself on one of the chrome and velvet stools that lined the front of the bar. "Whiskey on the rocks, thankyou."

Bauer retrieved two crystal glasses from the rack below the bar, and began unscrewing a bottle of fine aged whiskey that Hammond recognised as his brand of choice. Bauer was obviously anxious to hear what Hammond had to say, but he was careful not to show it. He poured a few inches of whiskey into each glass and then dropped some ice into Hammond's, preferring his own without. He handed the glass to Hammond and Hammond saluted him before sipping the beautifully aged whiskey. "You know of course that the dinosaurs that were produced on Jurassic Park and Site B were relatively small in number," he said over the rim of his glass.

"You collected many more DNA samples than that." Bauer gulped his whiskey down and grabbed for the bottle. His nerves were humming with anticipation.

Hammond nodded. "We were planning to expand the number of dinosaurs once the park was opened, start off with the more impressive and recognisable ones, then phase in the lesser known species, and also some new species that were discovered by our scientists."

"That information was lost when the hurricanes swept through the island and destroyed most of the buildings shortly after you shut the park down. I've been through the inventories, I know the stories."

Hammond wagged a finger at Bauer. "But did you know that I still posses the data that my scientists compiled? The genetic blueprints for each and every creature on that island, and at least fifty other species, plus the genetic material of several thousand varieties of plants and trees that have been extinct since the cretaceous period."

Bauer had poured himself another drink while Hammond spoke. He tried to keep the excitement he felt out of his expression but he was failing dismally. He hid his smirk by downing his whiskey. "We have heard rumours that such data still exists," Bauer said slowly, his composure returning. "Mostly from the people you once employed who now work for me."

Hammond finished his drink and slid his glass forward for Bauer to replenish. He paused before bringing the glass to his lips, grinning. "I would be willing to hand this information over to you, Mr. Bauer. This would put your people light years ahead of the Chinese, I daresay."

Bauer licked his lips. He leaned against the bar and swore in German under his breath. "You would give me this data? What would you want in return, Mr. Hammond?"

The smile never left Hammond's well worn features. "Simply your cooperation, Mr. Bauer. Once you assist me, I will hand over the data free of charge." The two men fell into silence. Bauer's eyes flickered and shimmered, his mind racing through the possibilities such an offer would bring. Hammond on the other hand finished his second drink, his heart hammering in his chest. He took a long, shuddering breath and hated himself as he spoke the words. "But there is a catch: The data is in the wrong hands at the moment. It is still intact and secure insofar as I am aware, but you would need to retrieve it from someone, a man who has stolen it from me."

Bauer knew that such an offer would come with strings attached so he was not surprised by this. "Who has the data, Mr. Hammond?"

Hammond's hesitation was slight, but it was enough time for him to know he was damning a man he once counted among his allies. "Nick Van Owen."