Chapter Nine
It's a beautiful day. Birds are chirping, the sun isn't as hot as it normally is and I don't have a headache after attempting to have Rex follow my instruction. For once the dinosaur and I agree that the quicker we get things done, the quicker we can just lay in the sun and doze off. I am on Rex's head, scratching his scales idly as my skin became warm from the sun and the fact that I have reached the point just before sleeping. The point where I am so content and that nothing would disturb me from slacking off for a little while. Obviously as I am about to finally get the sleep I deserved my phone rings. Rex shifts under me with annoyance and with a huff I swipe across the screen
"What up Claire?"
"I need you to meet me"
I sit up and yawn
"Were you sleeping on the job?"
"Not sleeping per say…just taking a break"
"I need you and Owen for something"
I slide off of Rex's head and he opens his eyes. I scratch his jaw and he leans into the touch
"What kind of something?"
"Meet me at Owen's and we'll talk"
"Gotcha"
She hangs up and I look at Rex forlornly
"I don't want to go…"
Rex closes his eyes
"Whatever, see if I feed you human food again"
He turns his head away and goes back to sleeping in the perfect sunny patch
The door slides open for me and I walk out of Rex's habitat. I switch off the alarm for my Amarok and climb into the seat. One thing I found out about myself is that I am a car enthusiast. I love cars, not so much the mechanics part of it but rather the look and feel of new cars. My hands slide over the steering wheel of the vehicle and I switch it on and take off towards Owen's place.
I drive along the path and when I can see Owen's place I can also hear his voice as well as Claire's
"I don't control the raptors, it's a relationship. It's based on mutual respect. That's why you and I never had a second date"
Owen and Claire used to date?
"Excuse me, I never wanted a second date"
"Who prints out an itinerary for a night out?!"
Definitely something Claire would do
"I'm an organised person"
I ignore the other tedious parts of the conversation and pull up behind Claire's vehicle. I admired it as I walk by
"You might have made them in a test tube, but they don't know that. They're thinking I gotta eat, I gotta hunt, I gotta…"
He pumps his arm in the air
"You can relate to at least one of those things right?"
I come up from behind Owen, rolling my eyes at his question directed to Claire. I nod at her in greeting
"What's the issue Claire?"
"As I was explaining to Mr Grady before he went off topic, I need the both of you to evaluate the paddock for our latest attraction"
"You guys have a new dinosaur?"
Owen cuts in
"They made a new dinosaur"
I look at Claire
"They made a new dinosaur?"
"We can't afford to not have new attractions, but that is not the point. We need you both to take a look around and point out any weaknesses in the paddock"
She looks at me
"Mr Masrani specifically asked for you Rae"
I sigh and rub my temples
"Yeah well, he always does"
"I'll be in the car"
She looks at Owen
"You might want to change your shirt. They're very sensitive to smell"
She turns and walks off
Owen looks at me
"Can you believe her?"
I shake my head
"Just get in the car Owen. I'll meet you guys there"
"You're not coming with us?"
I motioned to my vehicle
"I'll be right behind you, there's no need to sound so worried"
He waves at me as I get into my Amarok and I watch as he admires Claire's car before getting in the front with her. Claire takes off and I follow not too soon after, knowing that my need for speed would not be looked upon in a fair light.
We get to the isolated building soon enough and I marvel at the size of the walls. I park and get out, going to stand beside Owen as Claire locks her car
"How big is this thing?"
Owen looks at me
"I don't know but I think we're about to find out"
We get to big glass windows and all we can see is foliage. In the corner was what I think to be a slacking off security guard. I step over to the glass and try to look for the dinosaur that is supposed to be in the paddock but I don't see anything more than trees and dirt.
Something is gnawing at me as I stand there. Something isn't right about this whole scenario. It's quiet…too quiet for my liking. My senses suddenly switch to high alert and I can't understand why this is going on. Dread fills my belly and I touch Owen's arm gently. I look at him with worry
"What's wrong?"
"Owen something isn't as it should be"
He looks at the foliage with me
"What makes you say that?"
I shake my head
"I don't know…but Owen, something tells me that we're dealing with something really different here"
"I'm sure it isn't that bad. I don't think they would have something seriously dangerous in the park"
"I don't like this Owen"
He places his hands on my arms and makes me face him
"Relax; we're just here to check out the paddock"
I nod and turn towards Claire who began talking.