CHAPTER 236

Moments after Gary's demise…

Ms. Murdock stood at the large window looking out over the runway. The shotgun in her hand had not left her side since she picked it up.

Dr. Conners appeared beside her looking relatively clean after a rinse under the emergency shower. He was wearing one of the jumpsuits from the locker room. Everyone in the hanger except for Ms. Murdock had showered and changed into a fresh pair of clothes.

Kyra was practically glued to her father's arm, but he wanted to have a private word with Joan. Bryce turned to his daughter and smiled, "why don't you go and join the rest of the inmates in the hanger for a bit. Ms. Murdock and I need to hash some things out." He had been cracking jokes about everyone looking like prison inmates since they were all wearing jumpsuits, especially Kyra and Dianna as they had recently shaved their heads."

Kyra didn't laugh. She simply slipped her hand off of his forearm and left with a frown. Her departure was slow and reluctant, and Bryce had to twist his wrist from her grip a little and nudge her away.

When Kyra had finally disappeared into the hanger Dr. Conners shifted his attention to Ms. Murdock, raising an eyebrow at her mucky appearance. The air around her lingered with compsognathus urine. "You wanna have a wash?"

She didn't say a word. Dr. Conners thought he may have seen her shrug, but she might have just ignored him altogether.

"You could put on a change of clothes," Bryce pressed the matter a little more.

"And be subject to your poor humor. I don't think so." Joan finally broke.

"Have it your own way." Bryce shook his head. "Just don't stand up wind from me." He moved his eyes to the window. "It's quiet out there."

"And you think that means they're not out there?"

"No."

"They're watching us, Dr. Conners." She gave him a side eye. "Who's guarding the back door?"

"Dianna is on top of it." Bryce sounded a little annoyed at her. "Who else would be watching the back door?"

"Is there something you needed, Dr. Conners?"

"How about another way off this island."

"When you've found one let me know."

"So, you're just going to stand there until the next thing comes along to kill you?"

"At this point I just might as well."

"Why bother with the gun?"

"Well, if I can find some scotch I was considering getting piss drunk and swallowing some buckshot instead. Are we quite finished here, doctor?"

Bryce sighed and circled around the desk to an air vent on the wall behind it. He kicked it in and reached within, bending on one knee to do so. With a grunt he came back up with a mostly full bottle of rum in his hand. He tossed it to Ms. Murdock who caught it without a flinch.

Bryce said, "it's not scotch, but knock yourself out." He was about to turn around and go back in the hanger when he saw something moving outside. He squinted and moved closer to the window. "Something must have died."

There were several compsognathus scampering by, and they looked like they were on a mission to scavenge a nearby corpse.

"Or someone." Ms. Murdock had the bottle open and was taking her first swig.

They both glanced at each other. The thought left Dr. Conners with a certain amount of concern, though Joan appeared to express nothing but indifference.

When they looked back there was a man standing on the other side of the window not three feet away.

Dr. Conners jumped in his skin like he was seeing a ghost. It took him a moment to recognize the person, but it was someone he was familiar with. "Daniel?"

He stared in through the window at Bryce and Ms. Murdock. His expression was unreadable. Shifting his body he walked toward the glass door and pushed through. Lingering in the door frame he kept it open with one palm as he examined the tiny front office space. When his eyes settled back on Ms. Murdock and Dr. Conners he said, "I'm glad I found you. It's murder out there."

TO BE CONCLUDED…