Chapter 2

"This is Malcolm. I'm not home right now, so leave a message."

Grant hung up the phone for the third time that day. Ever since Sue Turner had told him that Malcolm had gone looking for a lost world, Grant had done everything in his power-short of flying down to Santa Fe-to get in touch with Malcolm.

"Alan, do you suppose there could be another island with dinosaurs? Think about it that little lab display Ingen had in the park was a little too neat for nature."

"I don't know Ian. I really haven't given it much thought. With enough control they could probably produce the dinosaurs."

"Control! Ingen was experimenting with animals humans have never interacted with before and you tell me that they could have that amazing of a survival rate with enough control! They certainly seemed to have things in control when we were there didn't they."

"Look Ian, we aren't even supposed to be discussing this. Why are you even bothered by it?"

"...Chaos Theory."

Grant shook his head as he remembered the last conversation he had, had with Malcolm six months earlier. It all began to fall into place-Ian's renewed interest in the park, his taking up with the Levine man, and his interest in dinosaur strength and average brain capacity. Now, with Malcolm missing somewhere in or near Costa Rica, Grant assumed, he knew he wouldn't have long before they would be coming for him.

The survivors were never supposed to return to the islands; let alone talk about them. It was one of the many conditions that the Costa Rican government demanded before they were allowed to leave the country. If they were questioned about Ingen, they were supposed to deny everything. Ellie Sattler had happily complied and left two months after being "detained" in Costa Rica. Grant had been detained longer, since his involvement with Ingen would be harder to deny. After spending five months in Costa Rica, the government had finally found a suitable alibi and had released him with the stipulation that he not return to Costa Rica or continue digging with Ingen funding.

Grant was more than happy to agree to the conditions and had lived quite contentedly for the past six years. Ellie seemed happy with the last time he talked with her as well. She had married, started a family, and had moved on with life. Now Malcolm was screwing it up. If anyone found out he was in Costa Rica looking for dinosaurs, everyone involved in the "incident" would be collected and taken to a special government facility until the situation could be fully assessed and handled.

Grant ran his fingers subconsciously over the scars on his chest as he decided what to do. If he could find Malcolm before too much damage was done, he might be able to stop him. Determined to stop Malcolm, Grant started towards the office door when it opened and two police officers stepped into the room.

"Dr. Alan Grant, you're wanted in questioning in the disappearance of Susan Turner," one of the officers said as he advanced and placed handcuffs on Grant's wrists.

"Look, I already told you before, I saw Sue Turner three months ago. She came into my office and asked for some help picking internships. I gave her some advice and sent her on her way."

"That's the last time you or anyone saw her Dr. Grant. She disappeared two weeks later."

"How do you know that she disappeared two weeks later? How could no one see a girl for that long?"

"Her friends claimed she became very reclusive after being accepted to an internship program. She received several mysterious phone calls and letters, but wouldn't tell anyone about them. The night before she disappeared, she left her roommate her half of the rent for the next month and went out to pack her car. The roommate claimed that though she missed Sue by a few minutes, she saw Sue get in her car and leave. Now, Dr. Grant, five people can place you within a block of the gas station where Sue Turner's car was last seen on a surveillance camera. Can you explain that?"

Grant rubbed his temples and stared at the clock on the opposite wall from him, "If she went to the gas station off of Main Street , then yes, it is about three blocks from my apartment. I walk in the evenings, so I'm not surprised that I was within a block of her. Many people could have been within a block of her, so why are you questioning me."

"You were the last one to really see Sue Turner. Mysterious phone calls, strange letters, being in the vicinity of where she was last seen, you certainly had a 'coincidental' relationship with this girl."

"Check my phone records if you don't believe me. I can't believe that you are questioning me because I happen to live near a gas station where a girl disappeared at. This is ridiculous."

"Well, Dr. Grant until we can prove your alibi, why don't you just stay with us for awhile,"the detective said as he motioned for a guard to escort Alan Grant to a holding cell.

Grant spent three days in prison until the police finally cleared him.

"Sorry for the misunderstanding," said the detective who had interrogated him as he escorted Grant from his cell, "We've been working on this case for three months and have hit nothing but dead ends. Her parents are a real mess over this thing. We're basically grasping at straws for their sakes."

"What do you think happened to her," Grant asked in a flat voice as he straightened his shirt.

The detective sighed, "We just don't know. She wasn't supposed to leave for her internship for another week. It's clear that she didn't want anyone to know where she went. She cleaned out her bank account and cancelled her credit cards. This is the most aggravating case I've had in a long time. I really think this case should be clo-"

"Detective Martin! Tell me you found something out from that professor," cried a haggard woman as she rushed in the police station to grab Detective Martin's arm. Her face was prematurely aged and her frazzled hair looked like it hadn't been cared for in months. Her eyes were wild and bloodshot from lack of sleep.

"Mrs. Turner, please, you know you're not supposed to come down here. When we hear something we'll- "

"Is that him," Mrs. Turner gasped as she turned to Alan Grant. She eyes blazed with a fierce light as she grabbed Grant's arm in a vice-like grip.

"Ma'am, I don't know what happened to your daughter," Grant gently said to the desperate woman.

"That's right, Mrs. Turner. We've cleared Dr. Grant of any charges. He's just leaving right now."

Mrs. Turner's eyes narrowed as she tightened her grip on Grant's arm, "You mean to tell me that the last man to see my daughter alive is being allowed to go free! You're probably releasing her murderer all because you can't find any evidence! This is such bull-"

"Angie! Stop right now. If the detective says that Dr. Grant isn't involved, then he isn't involved. Let him go. You're making a scene," said a middle-aged man. He too was prematurely aged, but unlike his wife, he just looked tired.

He gently laid his hand on his wife's arm, slowly loosened her grip from Grant's arm, smiled weakly and pulled his wife to the side of the hallway. Grant nodded appreciatively at Mr. Turner as he walked out of the police station.

"I know you're involved! Tell me where my baby is," sobbed the desperate woman at the rapidly shrinking back of Dr. Grant, "You've the cause of Susie's disappearance. I know it! I blame you!"