Before Jurassic World

Chapter 17

"I'm not that up-to-date on my dinosaur history so feel free to stop me if I'm wrong, but whatever it is you just said isn't a real dinosaur, right?" I asked the group.  They all shook their heads no.  "That's what I thought."

"What did it say about the raptors?" Owen inquired, his voice steady though I saw him clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides.  He was mildly irritated about my whole stealth plan with Lowery, but he was on a whole different level now that the girls were involved.  "Did you find anything that pointed to what that Domino Rex thing actually is?"

"Indominus Rex," Lowery corrected.  Owen scowled; he was not a happy camper tonight.  "Right, not important, and no.  The files for both dinosaurs look like basic research, theories and some reports from you guys, but like I said most of the files are inaccessible remotely.  I couldn't access any tangible information on either dinosaur."

While it appeared my hunch about InGen being a bad little donut was correct we still didn't have any hard evidence with which to nail them to wall.  Metaphorically speaking of course.

"That's it then.  If we can't get to the information there isn't a lot we can do," Barry stated.  Thank you Negative Nancy. 

"Well, maybe...," I pondered, a vague idea forming in my mind.

"Jo, the only way to access those files would be to at the server itself.  Before you ask, I checked, and that server is located on the top floor in the most highly secure part of the building.  It requires an access card that only a handful of people have.  I mean, what do you plan to do, steal an access card and break into the server room?" Lowery laughed at the impossible notion.

"Pretty much," I told him.  Owen and Barry's eyes swung around to me.

Lowery cleared his throat instantly sobering, "Oh, well, OK."

"Barry, why don't you and Lowery call it a night.  We're not coming up with a plan now.  I'll link up with you tomorrow at work," Owen said, dismissing the pair in a clipped tone.

I started walking behind them towards the path hoping Owen wouldn't notice.  It had not escaped my attention he hadn't said my name when he'd essentially ended our meeting.  The last thing I wanted was to be marooned on this beach, alone with Owen, with high tide imminent. 

Before I could make a break for it Owen's hand shot out ending my hasty retreat, "Mind hanging back for a minute?"  He said it like a question, but the hard look in his eyes told me he wasn't really asking.  High tide it was then.

I looked longingly as Barry and Lowery made the trek back up the path leaving me alone with one furious raptor trainer.  I shifted my weight back and forth anxiously awaiting his next move.  I decided my best course of action was to just wait until he showed his cards.  No need to agitate an already riled up animal.

After about two minutes of waiting I was out of patience.

"Are you going to say something or just stand there all dark and broody?" I asked flippantly.  Owen's eyes narrowed on mine, and I took a tentative step back.  Probably not the best way to approach this situation.

"Do you really think baiting me is in your best interest right now?"

"No?"  I was in uncharted waters right now.  I didn't know how to handle upset, unpredictable Owen.  Especially when I wasn't sure exactly what he was pissed about.  Was he pissed about my no so secret meeting with Lowery?  Was he mad that InGen was keeping hidden files on his girls?  Was he pissed the Cowboys were having another off year?  It was just too hard to call at this point.