CHAPTER 97
Dianna was on her way back to the control room when she ran into Bryce. He was coming the other way and walking like he had a mission. Dianna scarcely got a word out before he gripped her by the arm.
"I've been looking for you."
"Bryce, what the hell."
"Come on. We have to talk." He shoved her into the men's bathroom. His eyes lingered in the hallway for a moment to make sure no one had seen.
"Jesus, Bryce. What's going on."
"Shhh." He shut the bathroom door.
"Bryce?"
He still didn't answer. Going over to the three stalls along the wall he nudged them open one by one, checking to see that they were all vacant.
"Bryce, you're starting to scare me. What is this?"
"Hold on." He went to the sinks and turned all the faucets to full blast.
"Ok, now you're just being dramatic." Dianna threw a hand up.
Bryce turned to her. His face was grim. "Mr. Hammond doesn't know."
"Mr. Hammond doesn't know what?"
"Anything." Bryce was keeping his voice low. "I just had a very disturbing conversation with Dr. Wu." As he explained what had been said Dianna slumped against the counter.
"Oh, my god. They're still going through with the inspection."
"Not to mention sweeping fourteen deaths under the rug. Mr. Hammond has no idea because that half-wit nephew of his is trying to keep it under wraps, and Henry is going right along with it."
"Well, we've gotta tell him."
Bryce shook his head. "He's going to be unreachable. On top of spending time with his daughter he's going to personally pay Dr. Allen Grant a visit."
Dianna looked surprised.
Bryce shrugged. "John Hammond is ambitious. He knows he needs an expert's endorsement to keep things on track, and its going to take a hell of a lot to get Dr. Grant to leave Montana during dig season. Hammond is willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen."
Dianna frowned with deep contemplation. "Mr. Hammond may be ambitious, but he's not cut throat or heartless. There has to be a way we can get a message to him before the inspection takes place this weekend."
"There is," Bryce said. "We'll see him in person. Look, the arrangements have already been made for a chopper to airlift us and the kids off the island."
Dianna raised an eyebrow. "Us?"
"I can't stay here, Dianna. Not with all of this. I can't stay any more than you can." Bryce shifted the conversation back. "I'll have the pilot drop me off on Isla Nublar before he takes the rest of you back to Costa Rica. As soon as I speak with Mr. Hammond I'll catch up with you."
"Well, I'm glad to see you've finally come to your senses, Bryce. I just hope you can convince him to set this right."
"Too many people have died, Dianna. He'll have to listen."
Dianna nodded. Worry was all over her face. "In the meantime you'd better come to the control room. We may have other problems." Bryce almost looked like he hadn't heard her. There was something else troubling him. She asked, "What is it?"
Bryce was thinking about the utahraptors. He was one of the few who knew about them. Very little was understood about these animals through the fossil record, but from what he had witnessed with his own eyes there was nothing more frightening. Bryce didn't think it was the right time to tell Dianna about them. If they could get off the island and convince John Hammond to eliminate the whole project then there was nothing to be concerned about. He didn't think it would be right to put more on Dianna's plate if all was going to go as planned. Bryce shook his head at her. "It's nothing."
Dianna reached and turned off the water faucets. The room fell silent and hollow. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Let's go to the control room."