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THIRTY-EIGHT

Steph was baffled by how a truck designed to haul large animals could have navigated through the trees. It all became clear when they emerged back out from the tunnel gate and took a sharp right onto a small path. Again, Davey pulled up and ensured the tunnel gate under the inner fence was shut and locked. However, this time he did engage Steph in conversation.

“I’m not quite sure where we go from here.”

“What do you mean?” Kelvin asked.

Davey looked at Steph and then at Kelvin.

“I mean, it doesn’t look like they are following the bear exactly as his tracks go more through the trees, but the tyre tracks stick to the path. By the look of it at least.”

“So?”

“So you’re not quite sure what they’re up to,” Steph said, answering Kelvin for Davey.

“Exactly. There’s no way they would be able to track that bear in that truck through these trees. But that’s meant to be the whole reason they came in and didn’t just drive off with the lion. It doesn’t make sense why they’ve come in at all.”

“Yes, it does,” Kelvin cut in, his voice sombre. “It makes complete sense.”

Steph turned to look at him. Kelvin slowly bent down and carefully picked up a stick which he began mindlessly inspecting.

“They sense weakness,” he explained. “There is every chance that Michael has explained the mess in here and they smell an opportunity. After all, I can’t call the police. Even if I did, I would think that they believe themselves above such a trivial force.”

Steph opened her mouth to protest. Then she shut it. Of course, he couldn’t call the police. Not now. To some extent she wondered whether he had ever planned to and whether she everreally believed it was an option to him when she had advocated for it before, or whether she was just trying to alleviate some of her own sense of guilt at her involvement in the whole sorry affair.

“Essentially, they believe they have free reign. If I was them, I would go to the house first. Although, they probably expect anything important to be protected by locks and codes, which it is. Then again, they might have taken Michael’s key card. Did either of you check to see whether he had it?”

Steph shook her head and looked at Davey who was shaking his.

“No. Neither did I – careless. Either way, that’s where I would head. However, they might genuinely think of going after the bear and believe they have the time not to rush it, which is why they didn’t go recklessly through the trees after it and smash their vehicle up. Whatever the case, we need to stop them.”

“Need?” snorted Steph, raising an eyebrow.

Kelvin turned to look at her.

“Doweneed to? I mean, is it worth us risking our lives to protect what is, at the end of the day, your investment, your vanity project?”

Kelvin stared at Steph for a few seconds. Then he spoke.

“Because right now, the lives of the others are at risk. Not only that, but you are also banking on these people who have never seen or studied the animals before to have an understanding of them. Who is to say one wouldn’t escape whilst being transported? What damage could it cause? Who could it harm? I don’t think you’re the type of person to take such a risk. I am not sure you would be able to sleep if you made the wrong choice and something happened. You’re plagued by your life choices enough as it is, Steph. So vanity project you might think this is, the danger to others caused by these men is still very real.”

It sounded odd to hear Kelvin admitting that danger could becaused by his animals. She knew it wouldn’t alter his decision-making concerning them once he felt in control again, but it was nice to know that he did at least have some consciousness of their potential liability. More importantly, however, it was infuriating how accurately he had assessed her as a person.

“Fine,” she said. “So what do we do?”

To Steph’s surprise, Kelvin turned to Davey. Davey’s eyes widened slightly.

“Oh, right. You expect me to come up with the plan, do you? Of course, you bloody do.”

“You know the grounds better than us,” Kelvin said, quite calmly.

Despite the expectations being placed on Davey, Steph found herself speaking first.

“Do we not go and make sure the others are safe first?”

Davey thought for a second.

“I’m not sure that’s necessarily a good idea.”