Page 24 of Grumpy Bear (Return To Fate Mountain #4)

Chapter

Twenty

Ivy crouched behind the restored eagle display in the exhibition hall, her body pressed against the cool metal base.

The north-facing windows offered a clear view of both the main entrance and the access road that disappeared into the darkness beyond the parking lot.

Moonlight spilled across the polished floor, transforming the nature center into a cathedral of shadows and silver light.

Tonight, on the eve of the final inspection, she knew Porter would attempt to destroy everything she’d worked for. She’d mapped it all out, yet her heart still struggled to accept that someone would deliberately undermine her dream. It felt like shards of glass in her chest.

Above her, Henry maintained his position on the observation deck. She couldn’t see him from her vantage point, but she felt his presence like a warm current. She drew comfort from knowing he could monitor the entire compound while keeping her in sight. The mate bond hummed between them.

A faint mechanical whine pierced the silence. It was so soft that human ears might have missed it entirely. Ivy’s bear stirred beneath her skin, every sense sharpening. The sound came from the wildlife observation area, where floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the valley.

She pressed herself lower behind the display, her enhanced hearing tracking the source. The high-pitched whine started and stopped at irregular intervals, accompanied by the barely audible sound of metal meeting glass. A drill.

From above, she caught Henry’s hand signal—he’d heard it too. His position on the observation deck gave him a better vantage point. Through subtle gestures, he indicated movement near the loading dock.

They converged on the wildlife observation area simultaneously, their shared purpose requiring no words. The drilling sound stopped, but her enhanced sense of smell caught the sharp tang of heated metal and glass dust on the air.

A figure emerged from behind one of the support pillars, tools in hand. Moonlight streaming through the skylights illuminated his face, and Ivy’s heart plummeted.

Vance.

“Ronald?” Her voice carried more sorrow than accusation. “What are you doing here so late?”

He spun around, nearly dropping the cordless drill. “Dr. Bright! I… I got a call about stress fractures in the glass. Came to check the wildlife observation panels before tomorrow’s inspection.”

“At midnight?” Henry’s voice emerged from the shadows as he stepped closer. “With a drill?”

“These panels are critical for public safety,” Vance said, gesturing toward the floor-to-ceiling windows. “If there’s any weakness...”

Ivy stepped closer, her enhanced vision adjusting to the moonlight. That’s when she saw them—tiny, precisely drilled holes at the corners of each massive glass panel. Nearly invisible to the human eye.

“Ronald,” she said, her heart sinking. “Those aren’t natural fractures. You’ve been drilling into the glass.”

For a moment, his shoulders tensed, and she saw something flicker in his eyes—regret?

Then his mask slipped back into place. “What? No, these are…” He moved as if to examine the holes more closely.

“My God, you’re right. Someone’s been here before me.

” His voice carried practiced shock. “We need to document this immediately.”

“Stop,” she hissed. “You are literally holding a drill. I can smell the glass dust on your clothes. We heard you drilling, Ronald. Just now.”

Vance froze, his hand tightening on the tool. “You’re upset, not thinking clearly. The stress of tomorrow’s inspection…”

“Stress patterns radiate outward from the holes,” Henry interrupted.

For a long moment, Vance said nothing. Then his shoulders sagged slightly. “Look, I know how this appears, but there’s an explanation. These windows… they’ve been showing micro-fractures for weeks. I didn’t want to worry you before the inspection.”

“So, you decided to drill holes in them?” Ivy asked.

“No… no. I was testing the integrity around the existing damage. Standard procedure.” He gestured at the panels. “These specialty windows, they’re experimental. Sometimes they develop flaws that aren’t visible to the naked eye.”

“Then why not document it properly?” Henry pressed. “Why sneak in at night?”

Vance’s composure cracked slightly. “Because if word got out before the inspection, the whole project could be delayed. I was trying to protect your timeline, Ivy. You’ve worked so hard…”

“By compromising the structural integrity of the observation deck?” Ivy stepped closer, her voice sharp with betrayal.

“I’ve calculated the stress tolerance…”

“Stop lying.” Henry’s growl carried the authority of both ranger and bear. “We know about Porter’s variance application. We know about the pattern of incidents. What we don’t know is why you’re helping them.”

Vance’s hand trembled on the drill. “Helping who? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The development group that’s been buying up Fate Mountain properties,” Ivy said, watching his face carefully. “The ones who benefit when local businesses fail.”

Something shifted in Vance’s expression. “That’s ridiculous. I’m a local contractor. Why would I

“I trusted you. We all did. If you’re in trouble, if someone’s forcing you…”

“No one’s forcing anything!” The words burst out loudly. Then he caught himself, lowering his voice. “I’m telling you, tomorrow’s inspection will go perfectly. These windows just needed minor adjustments…”

“Minor adjustments that will cause the nature center to fail,” Henry said flatly. “Convenient timing.”

Vance’s grip on his messenger bag tightened involuntarily. “You’re connecting dots that don’t exist.”

“Porter’s variance application specifically cites safety concerns about experimental building materials,” Ivy interrupted. “Materials like these windows. If they fail tomorrow, it gives the county commissioners exactly the excuse they need.”

“You can’t prove any of this,” Vance said, but his voice had lost its conviction.

“We have the evidence,” Henry bluffed. “All connecting you to the larger pattern—the brewery contamination, the orchard fires…”

“I had nothing to do with those!” Vance’s control finally shattered. “I’m just trying to save my business! They bought my loans—all of them. One word from them and forty years of my family’s work disappears. You think I had a choice?”

The confession hung in the air, stunning in its sudden honesty. Vance’s eyes widened as he realized what he’d admitted.

“Who bought your loans?” Ivy asked gently. “Ronald, who’s behind this?”

But Vance was already backing toward the emergency exit, his face a mask of panic. “I’ve said too much. I can’t… my family…”

“We can protect you,” Henry said, moving to block his path. “Work with us. Help us stop them.”

“You don’t understand what they’re capable of,” Vance said, clutching his messenger bag like a lifeline. “The documents… I shouldn’t have… I’ve already said too much.”

In one desperate motion, he lunged for the emergency door. The alarm shrieked as he crashed through it, his figure disappearing into the darkness beyond.

“Why is he running?” Ivy asked, trying to process the sudden flight. “We could have helped him…”