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“We’re calling it a study now? Nope. If anything, they seem reassured by being moved into the house so quickly and that you’re looking for the delinquent animal. Again, their words, not mine.”

Kelvin nodded to himself.

“Yes,” he said slowly. “Yes, tell them we found the animal. Maybe hunt one of the bears. It might not be such a bad thing for them to see it coming into the compound.”

Michael nodded. Steph was not sure what she was hearing.

“Why would you need to lie to them?” Steph asked. “Surely, they have a right to know the truth. Besides, we can’t carry on with the cave lion running loose.”

Martina snorted and rolled her eyes.

Kelvin turned slowly to Steph, studying her. Steph was not sure whether to continue talking. A part of her told her it would weaken her position, whatever that was.

“I have heard from Daniel,” Kelvin said slowly, “About what happened. However, I would like to hear from you what you believe happened. As well as your thoughts on what is going on out there thus far.”

He pressed his fingers together and leaned back, his eyes not wavering from Steph’s face with his unnerving gaze.

Steph looked momentarily away and then turned her head back, and trying to match his tone said,

“I believe that the lion had been studying Fergus and his movements for a while before it made its move. Maybe days.”

Martina laughed.

“It is an animal. Yes, it probably knows how to hunt but it is reactive, not proactive!”

Steph ignored her. It gave her great satisfaction to see Kelvin do the same.

“The attack was too well-timed and too perfectly executed for the lion not to have done some learning before. It waited on the roof and must have got Fergus as he came back in through his doorway.”

Steph then had a thought.

“Did Fergus ever say anything about noises on his roof recently?”

Kelvin shook his head but Davey suddenly piped in.

“Yes.”

“Yes?” Kelvin asked, his head cracking in its new direction.

“Well, sort of. He mentioned a few days ago that his roof tiles might need seeing to, as he thought he heard them banging slightly the other night when it was windy. He assumed they might have come loose. That was all.”

“That doesn’t prove something was on his roof!” Martina sneered. “Fergus might have been right. It was windy, so who is to say it wasn’t roof tiles?”

“Look,” Steph snapped. “All I’m saying is what I think. If you think differently then I don’t really give a shit!”

Martina laughed.

“And what about the other animals… from what you have seen?” Kelvin asked, still very calm.

“From early observations, I think it’s a mess,” Steph said. “There seem to be too many big predators out there, territories are overlapping horribly, the behaviour of the animals appears verging on desperate – probably what encouraged the cave lion – and there will be more trouble before there is a balance. I would assume there will be killing between the animals until an equilibrium is found.”

“Just give them more food, then there’s no issue,” Martina said, looking out the window.

Steph watched Kelvin closely. His eyes turned to the ceiling slightly. He took a deep inhale through his nose, held it, then noisily released it.

“I do believe you are right, Steph,” Kelvin said, quite deliberately.

Steph had not expected this. From the reactions of the others, neither had they. Martina silently seethed.