Four other exhibits were in a horseshoe shape and occupied the other half of the grounds: Sea Monster Cove, The Reptile House, Mammoth Arena, and Biped Habitat.
Lucas looked at the third model, which showed the underground network of tunnels that would be used by the zookeepers, maintenance employees, security guards, or anyone else that needed to travel about the park, preferably unseen by the guests.
Wilde was insistent all operations be seamless to the general public, especially the livestock that would eventually be kept below ground in pens situated around the park as food for the attractions. No parent wanted his or her child witnessing the brutal slaying of a defenseless animal.
The model also showed the intricate maze of electrical conduits, the sewage system, plumbing, and the utility grids for generating solar electricity.
Lucas put his attaché case on the table. He released the catches, and opened the lid. He took out a folder, the latest progress report.
Wilde picked up his drink. He took a sip and kept staring at the second model. “Okay, Lucas. Let’s hear it.”
Lucas began going down his checklist. “There’s been a repeated malfunction with one of the elevators in the hotel.”
“Go on,” Wilde said. He turned to face Lucas and sat on the edge of the table.
“Our maintenance manager has voiced concern about the Tank.”
“What kind of concern?” Wilde asked.
“About an apparent problem with the filtration system in the aquarium.”
“Does he know the cause?”
“Not at this time.”
“What else?”
“Park Security has been complaining about computer glitches affecting the surveillance cameras. I sent out our best I.T. person.”
“Any more breakthroughs at the lab?”
“Yes, both Dr. McCabe and Professor Howard have made incredible progress. I think you will be very pleased. You’ll love what the Workshop has come up with.”
“I look forward to it. So, if we remedy these problems, when do you think everything will be done?”
“We won’t be able to have a firm date until after the inspections.”
“I thought everything was signed off?”
“Well, there’s been a bit of a disruption.”
“What’s the holdup?”
“Federal regulatory authorities. I’m afraid there’s been a leak. The USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services is concerned we’re violating the Animal Welfare Act.”
Wilde slammed his glass down, spilling his malt scotch on the table. “How can they say that when we’re bioengineering and cloning creatures that haven’t even existed until now?”
“That’s why they’re stalling. I’d hate to see it get to the Supreme Court.”
“I’ll make sure that never happens,” Wilde said.
“The last thing you want is a bunch of angry animal activists picketing the main gate on Opening Day,” Lucas said, knowing how his boss hated negative publicity.
“Then I think it’s time we send in the marketing and advertising teams,” Wilde said. “Let them experience the park for themselves. Create such a buzz no one’s going to care about those ranting sign-waving lunatics.”
“Don’t you think we should correct the existing problems first?”
“Nonsense,” Wilde said. “Now is the time to prepare our ad campaign.”
“Shouldn’t our first priority be public safety?”
“Lucas, don’t you think every person knows there’s a certain amount of risk every time they go to an amusement park?”
“Honestly, no. We just assume everything will be fine.”
“Get the ball rolling.”
“Yes, sir,” Lucas said. He dropped the progress report inside his attaché case and closed it in preparation to leave.
“I want this to be a family experience,” Wilde said, ushering Lucas out of the War Room.
“I’ll draft an email.”
“Tell them to be packed and ready for a redeye tonight.”
Lucas turned and looked at his boss. “Sir, don’t you think that’s a little short notice. I mean—”
“Have Katherine arrange to have the company’s 737 fueled and waiting at the Jet Center,” Wilde said, turning his attention to the view outside and ending their meeting.
3
CHANGE OF PLANS
Nick Wells pulled up in his driveway. He glanced at the clock on the dash, surprised to see it was only two in the afternoon. Normally, Meg would be ecstatic having him home from work so early. Maybe even squeeze some time in between the sheets before Gabe came home from school but he doubted that was going to happen.
He shut off the engine and sat behind the steering wheel for a moment wondering how he was going to drop the bombshell on his wife. Before leaving work, he had called the hotel where he had booked a suite to celebrate their anniversary and cancelled the reservation. He’d also called his mother and told her Gabe wouldn’t be staying the weekend with her after all and that he was sorry, as he knew how much she was looking forward to spending some time with her grandson.
He grabbed his workbag off the passenger seat and got out of the car.
Walking up to the front door he noticed the lawn needed mowing.
Lately, Gabe had been neglecting his chores. Meg had been on Nick’s case, saying he was too lenient with their fourteen-year-old son and needed to be more assertive.
Nick had been swamped bringing his work home most evenings and usually only saw his son at dinner before the boy went out to spend time with his friends.
He remembered his father being a heavy-handed disciplinarian, something that Nick promised he wouldn’t be raising his own child. The last thing he wanted was to browbeat his son and strain their relationship, especially when he rarely saw him.
Nick unlocked the front door and went inside. “I’m home!”
“In here,” Meg called out.
Nick walked through the living room. He took off his coat and draped it over the back of the sofa and tossed his workbag on a cushion. He came into the kitchen, loosened his tie, and went straight for the refrigerator.
Meg was standing at the counter, preparing a roast for dinner. “You’re home early.” She gave him a concerned look. “Please, don’t tell me you’re sick.”
“No, no. I’m fine,” Nick said. He opened the fridge door and took out a bottle of Michelob Ultra Light. He unscrewed the cap, opened the cabinet door under the sink, and tossed the cap into the trash bin.
He leaned against the countertop and watched Meg put the roasting pan in the oven. “There’s been a slight change in our plans.”
“What do you mean?” Meg said. “Don’t tell me they’re making you work.”
“You got it.”
“Damn it, Nick. This is our weekend!”
“Honey, let me explain. I’m going on a business trip and you and Gabe are coming along.”
“Where?”
“Well, that’s the thing. I’m really not sure.”
“You have no idea where we’re going? Seriously, Nick? And what are we supposed to do? Sit around the hotel while you work? So why is this business trip so important?”
“It’s some secret project the company’s been working on. They want us to go out and do an assessment.”
“What, write a bunch of bogus reviews on Yelp?”
“Very funny.”
“I need a drink.” Meg opened a cabinet door. She took down a bottle of Merlot and grabbed a water glass from the drying rack. She filled the glass almost to the rim with red wine, and took a long sip. “So what is this secret project the company’s been working on? And please don’t say, if you tell me you’re going to have to kill me.”
“All I know is that it’s a theme park.”
“We’re spending our fifteenth wedding anniversary at Knott’s Berry Farm?”
“Did I mention we would be staying at a luxurious five-star hotel?”
“Now you’re talking,” Meg sa
id and drank some more wine.
“With an Olympic-size pool.”
“Even better. Gabe will like that.”
“You’ll be glad to know that Bob and Rhonda will be going, so you gals can hang out.”
“Does that mean Shane, too?”
“I’m sure they’ll be bringing him along. Why, what’s wrong?”
“Ever since Gabe started going over to their house, he’s been acting strangely. Did I tell you he slammed the door on me when I told him to clean up his room?”
“When was this?” Nick asked.
“This morning, after you left. I also smelled pot in his room.”
“Pot?”
“I think he gets it from Shane. I’m telling you, the boy’s a bad influence.”
“I’ll talk to Bob.”
“You better talk to Gabe as well.”
“I will.” Nick drank the rest of his beer and put the empty bottle on the countertop. He reached inside the fridge and grabbed another beer.
“So when are we leaving?” Meg asked.
Nick hesitated for a moment before answering. “A company driver will be picking us up tonight around eleven.”
“What?” Meg almost spilled her wine. “Jesus, Nick.”
“How long till dinner?”
“The roast should be done in an hour.”
“That’ll give us a little time to do some packing.”
Meg rushed out of the kitchen and headed down the hallway.
Nick followed her into the bedroom. He opened the sliding closet door and took out two travel bags on wheels. He laid the luggage on the bed, unzipped each one, and opened them up.
He sat on the edge of the bed and watched Meg going through the dresser drawers on her side of the bureau. “You know, there’s a chance we might have to share a room with Gabe.”
Meg stopped and looked at Nick.
She was holding a white two-piece bathing suit. Nick’s favorite.
Meg tossed the swimsuit into her suitcase. “That roast better not burn.”
“Then I suggest we get cooking,” Nick said, tearing off his shirt.
4
MYSTERY FLIGHT
The company driver had been prompt, picking Nick and his family up from their house. They arrived just before midnight at the part of the airport reserved for private jets.
Nick saw a long line of people ready to go up the stairs to board a 737 airliner with WILDE ENTERPRISES blazed across the side of the fuselage and the tail section.
Baggage handlers were collecting everyone’s suitcases, making sure there were tags with the owners’ names on each piece of luggage, loading them on carts to take over and stow in the cargo hold.
Nick recognized only a few employees from his department, figuring that many of them worked on separate floors in the corporate building.
It was first-come, first-served so everyone could sit wherever they wanted.
They were shuffling down the aisle when Nick spotted Bob Pascale standing behind a seatback a few rows back. “Hey, Nick! We saved you some seats.”
The two families shared greetings and everyone grabbed a seat.
Gabe and Shane sat together in one row with Bob on the aisle seat. Nick sat in the seat across the aisle from Bob. Meg sat in the middle seat beside Nick and Rhonda was by the window.
Nick noticed all of the sun visors were pulled down covering the windows, which was probably standard operational procedure for a redeye so passengers could grab some sleep during the flight.
He glanced over at Meg. “How’s your head?”
“Remind me to stay away from red wine,” she replied. She delved in her purse and took out a bottle of Tylenol. She washed down three pills with water she’d brought along.
“This sucks,” Rhonda said.
Nick leaned forward. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t open the stupid visor.”
“Maybe it’s stuck.”
Rhonda tried again but it wouldn’t budge. “See what I’m saying.”
“There’s some open seats by the windows if you want to switch.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll probably get some sleep.”
Nick knew everyone was onboard and seated because the forward exit door was closing. Outside, the powerful turbine engines began to rev, vibrating the passenger compartment.
A flight attendant stood in the front aisle and grabbed a mike from a holder mounted on the bulkhead. “Good morning everyone and welcome aboard. Before we take off, Mr. Wilde has asked everyone to surrender their cell phones, laptops, iPads, cameras, and any other electronic device you might have on your person. A flight attendant will be coming down the aisle to pick them up. Please, don’t be alarmed. All your belongings will be returned to you on your return flight.”
Nick could hear people grumbling.
One person spoke up. “This is absurd. How are we supposed to do our jobs without our computers?”
“Mr. Wilde was quite adamant that you surrender all devices.”
“Ain’t this some weird shit,” Bob said, looking over at Nick.
“He’s the boss,” Nick replied.
Weird shit was right.
He’d never heard of such a request.
Meg nudged him in the side. “Nick, what’s going on? Why do we have to give up our phones?”
“Must be because of the project. Probably afraid someone will take pictures and post them online.”
“Couldn’t he just ask everyone not to take pictures? I have to say I’m feeling a little violated here. Gabe is going to go nuts without his iPad.”
“It’ll be good for him to take a break from that thing.”
“We’re just going to hand over our phones?”
“Rules are rules.”
“Okay,” Meg said. “Just so you know, I really think this is a bad idea. How do we know someone won’t be going through our phones, stealing our personal information?”
“They wouldn’t do that.”
“Are you sure?”
Nick leaned out and looked back. A flight attendant was pushing a cart down the aisle, stopping at each row, collecting passengers’ electronic devices.
He took his cell phone out of his trouser pocket and made sure it was turned off to save the battery.
Rhonda and Meg gave their phones to Nick.
He looked over and saw that Bob had collected the devices from the boys and they weren’t happy. Bob glanced at Nick and shook his head with a bewildered expression.
When the flight attendant stopped at their row, she asked their names and whose device was which. Her tone was businesslike and wasn’t at all friendly. Nick handed her the phones. She applied an identifying sticker to each one so it could be returned to the rightful owner and dropped them in an already half filled plastic bin.
Once she was done, she shoved the cart up to the next row.
Nick had a queasy feeling in his gut.
Like a captured soldier who’d just handed over his gun to the enemy.
5
TAKEN FOR A RIDE
Nick figured they’d been in the air just over three hours when the plane finally made its descent and came in for a landing. During the earlier part of the flight he’d heard whispering voices, more passengers protesting about having to give up their phones, but after a while everyone began to settle down, either resigning to the fact that they had no choice in the matter as it had been a directive from the higher echelon or were too tired to complain due to the lateness of the hour.
The commercial jet came to a complete stop and the engines shut down.
On a normal flight, passengers would be getting up from their seats, scrambling to get their carry-ons out from the overheads, but in this case there were no belongings to retrieve.
Instead, everyone remained seated like an obedient classroom of children awaiting the teacher’s permission to stand.
Minutes passed, but neither of the flight attendants made an effort to open the exit door or speak on the p
ublic address system to explain what was happening next.
Bob leaned out in the aisle and said to Nick, “They’re stalling while they offload our luggage.”
“But why?”
“No doubt going through our bags looking for computers or cameras.”
“I have to say, this is getting to be one crazy trip.”
“I’ll say,” Bob said.
Nick sat forward so he could see Gabe. “How’s it going son?”
“I can’t believe you let them take my iPad,” Gabe said, straining against his seatbelt and glaring at his father.
“Sorry, but it’s company policy.”
“Company bullshit you mean,” Gabe snarled.
“Watch it!”
Gabe slammed back in his seat.
“Did he just say bullshit?” Meg asked, gripping Nick’s forearm.
“Kid must be having Wi-Fi withdrawals.”
“This isn’t funny, Nick. I’m getting worried.”
“Everything will be fine. Once we get off this damn plane.”
“I wish I could see outside,” Rhonda said.
“Yeah, sure would be nice to know where we are,” Meg told her friend.
“Wait a minute, I think they’re going to announce something,” Nick said when he saw one of the flight attendants up front with the mike in her hand.
“I hope you all enjoyed your flight. When you disembark there will be someone that will direct you to your bus. Thank you for flying Wilde Enterprises.”
“Thank God,” Bob said, grabbing the headrest of the seat in front of him and pulling himself up to stand.
The passengers nearest the aisle got up and formed a single line. People in the middle seats crouched under the overheads, while those by the windows remained seated, waiting their turns.
A flight attendant opened the exit door. She smiled at each passenger as they disembarked.
Nick and his family were the last to leave. He couldn’t help noticing the way the flight attendant looked at him, all smug and superior. He wanted nothing better than to wipe the condescending smile off her face. It irked him knowing they worked for the same company and neither of them had any real authority over the other, yet here he was, kowtowing to another peer.
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