A little over twenty minutes later, they met in the parking lot near the Ark's kitchens and acted out their reconciliation scene while the minibus disembarked the DPG trio and its other passengers. As they whispered, kissed, expressed their respective regrets and mushiness worthy of a bad romantic drama, several stopped for a moment to listen and watch them.

Once their scene was over, they entered the Ark together and went to sit side by side in the circle of chairs inside the keeper's office, greeting the others shyly. Nearby, Zia and Franklin were whispering while watching Claire from time to time. The latter noticed this and gave them a wary look, fearing that they were not talking about her in a very positive way. Then Franklin got up and went to see her.

"Claire?" he asked in a hesitant voice.

"Yes."

"I… We wanted to ask you if you could give us an interview. For the documentary... and also for the organization."

Surprised, she stared at him silently for a moment, then said:

"I know what you're up to, my sweethearts. Since my little press conference when I got out of the hospital, no journalist managed to get a hold of me. What a publicity stunt it would be for the Dinosaur Protection Group to have an exclusive interview with Claire Dearing, the infamous last director of Jurassic World… If you put it on Youtube in a few months, buzz will be guaranteed. People would love to see it I'm sure... to make fun of me, like if I was a caged circus freak... Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you have good intentions but I have to say no. And didn't I tell you at the beginning that I didn't want you to take footage of me?"

"Yes, I remember, but the thing is, Zia and I think it's a bit of a shame.

And Alexander, what does he think? She wondered, casting a furtive glance at the DPG founder, whom Franklin's offer also seemed to have surprised. Oh wait… I know. He doesn't like me and I'm sure he wouldn't mind passing off my efforts as his own.

"Even if you did everything some accuse you of, it would be unfair for you to be a ghost in this operation," the IT technician continued.

"Maybe it's better that way."

She took a deep breath and then said:

"Did you know I was clinically dead for five minutes? According to some of the doctors who tended to me in Nicoya, they expected me to stay dead. Neither dead nor totally alive... What am I if not a ghost? Anyway, I sometimes have the impression of being one."

"And yet you are here with us, among the living. You're involved as much as we are, the animals are important to you... But you don't appear once in the footage I took, or so furtively that you could easily be mistaken for another woman. Without footage of yourself, how could you prove people that you were involved in this operation? A picture is worth at least ten testimonials."

"Do you think this interview would help me get a new image?"

"Don't you think so?"

"A new image? Come on, Franklin... It's obvious you've never seen me without this mask. If you take it off, give me black clothes, put on some makeup, and eventually shave my head, I'll look like a villain from the Star Wars Expanded Universe. The old one at least, before Disney came in. How do you expect people to have sympathy for you when you don't have a good reputation and look more like a villain than a hero?"

"You're… intimidating, true, but you don't seem as bad as some pretend. Some might even think you're cool."

"Cool?" she repeated. "Franklin, have you been deaf and blind in the past few days? I hit my boyfriend in a fit of anger for fuck's sake! And that's not to mention..."

"You mean your 'fight' with Owen?" He interrupted as she was about to mention the fact that she had nearly killed Wu's right-hand man during the Fall. "No matter how hard you try, half of the people in this room know it was bluff and the other half have doubts."

He leaned closer and, in a low voice, he added:

"With Zia, we've heard you laughing and making love the last few nights. We don't know what you're up to, but if you have sadomasochistic tendencies, that's none of our business."

He suddenly realized he was going a bit too deeply into their private lives and instinctively recoiled slightly. She looked him straight in the eyes but while he expected her to retort curtly, she just smirked and laughed softly.

"I also know The Room by the way," he added. "You have succeeded where Tommy Wiseau failed."

"Thanks."

"The documentary we're making would be a way to sway public opinion in your favor," Franklin said, "even if it's just a little. And I'm asking you now because we're leaving in two days. If we could take some footage of you here, taking care of the animals..."

"It's true that animals have an endearing or down to earth aspect. Why do you think some politicians go to agricultural shows, pose with lambs, or share pictures of their pets? You've got a few points, Franklin," Claire replied thoughtfully. "I'll think about it. I'll give you my answer at lunchtime."

"OK cool. Cool, cool, cool…," he repeated nervously before returning to his seat.

At the same time, Juan arrived in the office, followed by Jocelyn. She looked around the room and when she saw the couple side by side and seemingly at peace, she bit her lower lip. She then went to the DPG trio, whispered something to them and then invited the couple to join them with a hand gesture.

"Owen. Claire. Could you come over here please?"

The couple stood up and joined them.

"As the end of your stay in Burgo Nuevo is nearing, I wanted to inform you five that you are invited to dinner tonight at the hacienda," the manager announced. "Think of it as a farewell dinner."

"But there's still tomorrow evening," Alexander pointed out.

"Not only do I think you'll be busy with the departure preparations, but I'll also be receiving the mayor as well as Mr. Merced, Mr. Torres and Mr. Iger," Jocelyn replied. "I think it's wiser to avoid having those last two stay long in the same room as Mr. Grady and Mrs. Dearing."

"I think so too…," Owen said.

"Juan will release you earlier today so you can get ready at your hotel," the manager added. "A driver will pick you up at 7 p.m. Mr. Wheatley, the head of the private military company hired by HQ, may be joining us."

"I met him during the operation on Nublar," he told her. "I heard that he and his men will arrive at the end of the day, as will the InGen Security soldiers and the reinforcing vets and keepers."

"Correct," Jocelyn confirmed. "Well I have to go. See you this evening," she told them in a monotonous tone.

She left and like every morning, Juan announced to the small group their respective assignments.