Nick and Stephen sat in Nick's office, going through several papers. Nick's desk and several chairs around him were covered in files and research. Nick looked as ragged as the office around him. He compared two papers on some research on gorgonopsid fossils found in South Africa but they revealed no clues.
Stephen chucked the paper in his hand down in frustration, on top of the pile in his lap. "There's ten years of Helen's work." Stephen said. Stephen had a large pile of notes on the table to his left.
"Keep looking." Nick said.
"You've read every word she ever wrote."
"Yes, but we didn't know about the anomaly then. There might be references to it in Helen's work that we overlooked." Nick argued back.
"If she knew about it, she would have told you."
Nick shook his head slowly. He looked towards a picture of Helen on his desk and started to have flashbacks of two nights ago. He saw him and Avery coming out of their lab after hearing a noise. The anomaly disappearing. Helen backing away under a streetlight.
Avery placed a mug of coffee before Nick startling him out of his thoughts.
"Are you alright?" Stephen asked noticing how he jumped.
"Just haven't been sleeping very well." Nick said.
"That's because…" Avery trailed off as Nick shook his head, telling her not to tell him.
"Because what?" Stephen looked between the two and leaned forward, being careful not to knock the papers off his lap.
"Because we both have been up most nights looking over these paper's." Avery told him, quickly changing her words.
Stephen hummed grabbing a stack next to him and taking a sip of his own mug.
Claudia talks to Lester as they walked through the home office. It was brightly lit with bright white lights and the whole building appeared to be covered in windows. As they walked she told him about the clean-up of the anomaly and the eyewitnesses.
"... schoolteacher's in shock. I'm positive we can keep her away from the papers. And the boy will be no problem." She finished telling him. Lester opens the door to an enclosed walkway and lets Claudia through first.
"Pity the monster didn't eat them both. That would have been the neatest solution." Lester said dryly letting the door wing shut. Claudia sent him an exasperated look.
They stop in the middle of the walkway and Lester turns to Claudia. "Joke" Lester said noticing her look. Another office worker hands Lester some papers to sign before she leaves.
"What about Cutter and that daughter of his?" Lester asked as if this whole matter bothered him. He could do without this strange business.
"What about them?" Claudia said.
"I don't like anyone to whom the adjective 'maverick' might be applied. Cutter virtually owns the copyright. And I have no idea how his daughter is."
"Cutter may be a little unconventional in his methods, but he's the closest thing we've got to an expert."
"You've Taken to him, haven't you?"
"I trust him, if that's what you mean?"
"Of course, what else? Very well, keep him on side for the time being. I'd rather have him inside the proverbial tent than out."
"This obsession is damaging. You're just as bad, you have both been living on nothing but caffeine these last couple of days." Stephen said pacing along the walkway outside Nick's office. He was telling his thoughts to Avery who was leaning heavily on the railing looking over the university courtyard below. She looked dead on her feet but refused to rest
Avery turned away from the railing throwing her arms up. "I know Stephen! But this is the only lead we've had in years. I am not going to give up." She told him.
"No...I'm not saying that you give up. Just try to focus on your other work and personal life as well. You've been neglecting your boyfriend these last few days." Stephen said.
"We have been chatting, but I will try to not obsess over mum as much as I have." Avery said.
Stephen crossed his arms and sent her a look. "I've still yet to meet him."
"And you most likely won't for a long time. You and dad have scared off all my previous boyfriends with your father and brother act." She said. She smiled as she remembered them scaring off her last boyfriend. A month after he was scared off she found out he was seeing other people while going out with her.
"We're just trying to keep you safe." Stephen said. There was a small beep coming from Stephen's pocket. He pulled his phone out and flipped the lid.
"A text from Abby, Connor's gone chasing after an anomaly." He said.
"The New Forest." Avery read over his shoulder. She rocked back on her heels as Stephen turned to face her. "That forest is too big to search. You go in and tell dad and I'll go to the police to see if they will call me if they find them." She turned and walked to her own car, a 4x4 like the universities, but slightly smaller.
Nick and Claudia were talking at Nick's desk when Stephen entered the office.
"Text from Abby. Connor thinks he's onto another anomaly. They've gone to investigate." Stephen said hurriedly.
"wh- what… Where are they?"
Stephen checked his phone. "New Forest. She's not exactly sure where."
"Well we cannot do anything till we know where exactly they are. The forest is too big to search, it's going to get dark soon." Nick said leaning back in his chair.
"Where's Avery?" Claudia asked looking around.
"She went off to the police station to see if they can give her a call if they find Connor and Abby." Stephen said.
It was just after six when the police called. Avery, Nick and Stephen slept at Nick's house as it would be easier for them to move when a call came in. Stephen had to force the two to go to sleep. At one point during the night he had to take research notes from Nick's room.
Avery woke quickly after the call and texted Claudia to give her the place Connor had been found.
When they got there several police were on the scene questioning Connor and Abby. Cutter pulled an officer aside to talk to him.
The morning was dreary and Avery shivered under her thin coat. They had rushed to the scene after getting the call in case there really was a predator, so she grabbed the first jacket she could, which happened to be the thinnest.
She was disappointed that there was no creature or anomaly. She walked towards the dinosaur model and grumbles. She takes the broken bottom jaw and passes it to Stephen, who turns it over.
Nick approaches as the police officer rejoins his colleague. Stephen drops the jaw and comes to stand next to Nick.
"Look, I know what you're going to say." Connor said.
"We're sorry." Abby said shortly after.
"The police aren't going to prosecute you for trespassing. Supposing it had been a predator. What were you going to do? Tame it? You knew exactly what was at stake but you just couldn't keep your mouth shut."
"It's just so big. I had to tell somebody. I'm sorry. I am. I blew it."
"Go back to college. Get on with your work. I'll find you another supervisor."
"I'm just as much to blame as he is."
"Just as stupid, maybe. But you didn't shout your mouth off and you've still got skills I can use. You stay."
Nick and Stephen leave. Connor turns away, looking like he's about to cry.
Avery sent him a sad look. "Sorry Connor." She said then rushed after Nick and Stephen.
"Did you have to be that hard on him? I know he made a mistake but any of us could have easily did the same." She said crossing her arms. She trudged along beside them looking back over her shoulder at Connor. He looked like a kicked puppy the way his head was hung low. He had his back to her and was looking over the river.
"Yes, but it was him who did it. Connor should have kept quiet so that this didn't happen." Nick said. Avery didn't say anything. She sent one more look at Connor before climbing into the back of the 4x4.