CHAPTER 81

Dr. Conners pulled the door closed behind him with a metallic clang. The inside of the observatory was shadowy and lit only by the light coming in through the windows. He crossed the open room to where the others were congregated amidst a broad ray of sun. As he approached he wrapped his arms around Kyra and gave her a hug. "Are you alright?"

She nodded.

Looking over his daughter's shoulder Bryce watched Dianna squeezing Seth. No one was speaking. It would have been silent but the hollow metal interior of the observatory was echoing every minute movement that someone made.

Joan had slumped to the floor against a vertical beam. She'd pulled out a handkerchief and was rolling it into a bandage to tie around her thigh.

Hector crouched next to her, drawing Juan's flask from his pocket. He swirled the container around as if to see how much was left inside. With a little nod he unscrewed the cap and tipped the flask to douse Ms. Murdock's wound.

The first drop was barely swelling over the brim when Joan snatched the flask away. "Christ, Hector! Don't be an idiot." She tipped her wrist and inhaled all that was left. Wiping her lips with the back of her arm she chucked the flask to the floor and went back to wrapping her leg.

Hector grumbled and backed away.

Bryce eased his arms off of his daughter and looked at her. He took a breath and said, "The first thing I need to know is what the hell happened to your hair?"

"Dad, really?" Kyra pushed him away.

"Ok. Maybe you wanna tell me how in the world you wound up inside that ptero-dome." As soon as he asked the question he could see his daughter exchange a conspicuous glance with Seth.

Dianna gave her son a look, and he avoided her eyes.

Bryce said, "Kyra, what's going on?"

She moved further away from him and stood by the window. Bryce tried to make eye contact with her, but she shifted to stare out across the ptero-dome.

"Kyra." Bryce put a firm hand on her shoulder and turned her toward him.

"We snuck out, ok." She shifted back to the window. "It wasn't a big deal. We've done it a bunch."

Dianna went from consoling to upset. "Seth, are you kidding me?"

"Mom." He was familiar with the tone she was giving him. He knew how quick she could escalate from there, but the truth was he didn't have any way to defend what he had done. It was what it was.

Dianna dropped her arms. "Why would you do something like that? What even possessed you?"

Seth's face dropped to the floor. He didn't have anything to say.

Kyra cut in. "Don't get mad at Seth. We kind of pushed him to do it."

Bryce said, "That doesn't make it better."

Dianna looked at her son with stern eyes. "He's smart enough to make his own decisions." That's when she cracked. "God! What the hell were you thinking?"

"Mom, I'm sorry."

"You knew how dangerous it was, and you went anyway. Do you have any clue what could have happened to you out there? Do you have any idea at all! I could have lost you!"

At that moment there was a slam against the windows. It was so loud and sudden that Kyra fell to the floor. She looked up and saw Star Fire clinging to the protective caging that covered the glass. The pterosaur snarled and rattled the mesh, but there was no danger. As Dr. Conners helped his daughter up Star Fire shifted and followed them with her eyes. She bit at the cage halfheartedly and trilled.

Bryce backed Kyra away from the window and turned to the others. "I think we ought to hold off the discussion until we get back to the operations compound."

The looks between Seth and his mom were uneasy and awkward. There were clear unspoken emotions of anger and frustration, but neither said a word.

When it looked as though they were about to argue again Bryce interjected, "Dianna? Did you hear me?"

She didn't move. She stared at her son.

Seth was the first to break. He turned and walked to the other side of the room. Dianna went to follow him, but Bryce put a hand on her arm.

"Just give him a minute. We need to focus on getting back to operations." He turned to Hector. "I assume you have the truck."

"Si, amigo. But maybe you gonna have to come help me with something, eh."