Richard Levine sat on the park bench, staring out at the lake. It was pretty beautiful today, which was perhaps not entirely unsurprising that he should have gone to a place of calm after what he had seen on the news. Maybe he needed that for himself. Seeing these people…he closed his eyes, breathing deep. Of course, the news footage itself had been censored, but the essence of the attack was there- even in it's somewhat sanitized presentation
Breathing out, Levine would lean against the bench, watching as the first of the animals approached the water. They were about the size of a horse, but much more powerfully built. They walked on two legs, but descended to four, as the group would begin to drink from the waterhole. Parasaurolophus, a group of Juveniles. He couldn't see any adults, but they were probably nearby. Well at least that was what the sign on the park entry had said.
It was a safe zone for dinosaurs, which was ironic. From what he had done in the auction, even going to that house…it felt like he was already going pretty far into this. He just hoped that he could pull himself out now though.
The important thing was that the dinosaurs here were protected now, which was well and good. There were too many people wanting them, as he turned his head to the noise behind him. Car pulling up. He relaxed when he saw who was in it, but only slightly. Slightly…he thought, as he saw the man and the woman getting out. They paused at the dinosaurs, but continued onward, sitting down on the bench beside him after a second.
This was supposed to be a safe area for the dinosaurs, not quite a sanctuary like they were saying on the news…but somewhere that they would not be bothered. Maybe that only worked for the ones like this, that were still young, not as threatening. Either way, he was not sure how long that state of affairs would last.
"Thank you two for coming," Levine said as he was just feeling like this was going to be a very interesting conversation for the both of them. He could feel their stares, it was understandable really. Calling out of the blue like that. But he had to say something.
"You came alone. You know…I looked you up. You were on Sorna." To his surprise, he realized that was the woman- Claire talking. Her voice was soft and well spoken, even if it was clear that she was still frazzled. Neither of them looked like they had slept, as they were intent on one thing only.
"You've done your research. Yes. I was on Sorna. And over the years, I've had the pleasure of repeated encounters with these animals. To think now you can see them just strolling to your neighborhood park-"
"Levine. I appreciate that you called us, but please just tell us what it is you think you have." That was Grady, he was leaning against the back of the bench, his breath was coming in hard, as his fingers tapped on the edge of the bench. Yes, this was obviously something that was going to affect him too, both of them to be perfectly honest.
"For did clear that area." Levine wondered how this was going to play, as he did not yet have an idea of what they might already know or have pieced together. But it was going to be interesting either way. "That area is not the only one to have a sudden repopulation a few weeks after a supposed clearing." Owen and Claire exchanged looks, as they were silent, allowing him to speak.
"Most of the times its something small. A Mussaurus here, a Microceratops here, maybe here and there a Gallimimus." It was a pattern. One that he had been trying to put together for a while. The pieces all fit strangely enough though.
"Damn, have you been following me around?" Grady was shaking his head. He sighed, looking out at the Parasaurs. "You know. I remember that herd. I helped relocate them to here." He smiled faintly, although there was a strange tone in his words that made Levine pause slightly.
"No. Not following. I study the newspaper and follow the reports. I have a friend of mine who helps as well." He still kept in contact with Finn, and he was grateful for that. Without his assistance, he would never have made as much progress as he did with his models. There was something to be said about having all the data here in one place.
"We started seeing the discrepancies early on. But it was never enough to get a repeat call. Usually local agencies capture the small stuff, or so they say. Still, when was the last time that the Mesozoic project volunteered to catch anything smaller than your raptors?"
Grady leaned back, exhaling, but Claire kept on staring at him. She seemed to have regained some of the earlier color to her cheeks, as she was nodding. "What's so strange about that? I'm sure that these animals must be seen all the time. After all, it's a lot more difficult to track the smaller ones. Everyone knows that."
Levine chuckled, watching the Parasaurs wade in the lake, the group was splashing slightly, and even for juveniles, he could still get a good sense of their size. He was glad that they were a good distance away from the water's edge. Not that he felt any sort of danger, but more so that he just did not want to place himself in that position. He was done with the running and screaming.
Malcolm had been as well. Maybe that was why he had told Levine as much when they had failed the first time at the press conference. He had been able to get him so far…but not all the way. That though, had been because Grady and Dearing had shut them down that time. Yes, that was why.
"We track them. Using chips. We would know if there were any that were gone or missing that we had missed. I don't see how this is relevant Mr. Levine." Levine had been waiting for her reaction though, as he would have this one prepared.
"Yes. I can see how you would say that. But for something like say…your Gallimimus or even …a Pachy," here, he saw Owen's eyebrow bristle, as he would start. He had touched a nerve. But this was only the start, as he needed to do more than just provoke a nerve. He need to make the both of them see.
Or maybe they already saw, as Owen was leaning forward. Levine just needed to press onward. "You've seen it haven't you. Something that shouldn't be there. But that was there anyway." He thought he had it, as that other incident was now sliding away, fading in public consciousness. But he remembered, and that was important.
Fuck. Was he sounding like Malcolm now, he probably was. But he was too far to stop now. Claire and Owen were both silent now, as he could figure that for a yes. Somewhere he could hear birds chirping above, as they settled onto the far side of the lake, unperturbed as yet by the splashing of the animals.
Claire spoke, her head now fully up, as she seemed to have a purpose in her eyes. Understanding? Maybe. Maybe not the full picture just yet. But hopefully there was enough to help her along.
The answer was right in front of them, Levine realized, as he would let his eyes sweep down the grassy plain. The only thing separating them from the herd of Parasaurs were a ring of Pylons, situated just far enough apart that they were not that obstructive. Still, he would remember seeing something similar, back in Mexico, that was right. In Mexico these had been used for a purpose. As he considered, one Juvenile broke from the herd, straying towards them. He tensed up, and so did Owen, but as he did so, the animal would suddenly turn to the side in abrupt about face, almost as if repelled-
"Watch the next one there-" He would point out, as he looked at the next one, it was similarly colored, and of the same size, but there was something different about it. Maybe it was a discoloration on its side, as he could see a scar, even from here. Another animal or something else?
The second Parasaur lowed lightly, it's head lowering slightly, as it went through, and it would pass by the pylon. Now moving towards the trees. Levine looked back at the pair of them, as he decided to just say it. "That animal was not chipped like the one you had- it has no reason to react to the fencing. You've seen animals like that before…haven't you?"
Owen and Claire were silent, they seemed to be thinking, their gazes telling as they would each of them finally decide. "We have. I have." Owen was standing up now, rubbing his eyes again as if he was tired. "So what you're saying. Is that animal wasn't chipped at all?" Levine nodded, as he watched the Parasaur began to feed on a nearby bush beside them.
"Son of a bitch." Grady sighed, Claire still looked like she was busy putting the pieces together, but it should not be too difficult to do that. The pieces were arranged quite neatly now, whether or not they chose to see it.
"That animal that we saw. You're saying it wasn't chipped." She got it finally, he was surprised by how quick he was on the uptake. "Maybe. Maybe not. Or maybe it was chipped in a different way…" he saw Owen looking at him now.
Levine nodded, as he shrugged. Now these are the type of questions that maybe you should have been asking back at the amusement park," he said wryly. He had been following Grady's activities, and tere were a few things that didn't add up.
"We've got to get back. We have to." Then they were gone. Leaving only him alone at the bench. He wondered how long it would be if ever, eh heard back. Maybe it was time for him to get going as well. He had some urgent business of his own to attend to, and for now, it seemed his path was going on a parallel, but separate direct to these two. He did not think it was any less important though.