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.The air temperature had fallen at least fifteen degrees after midnight.“If they were born in a lab,” Cammy said, “how did they get here? There’s no university in this county, no companies in the bio-engineering business.”“They probably wouldn’t have gotten out of the lab on their own.Maybe some animal activists did it.That bunch is causing havoc these days.Vandalizing scientists’ homes, raiding laboratories in the night.Some of them—they’re fanatical enough and ignorant enough to turn an experimental species loose in the wild.They could’ve brought them from anywhere.”“An experimental species,” Cammy said dubiously.“This is just gut instinct, Eleanor, but that isn’t what they are.”“Then what are they, Dr.Rivers? They’re not in the encyclopedia of known species.Their eyes alone qualify them as an astonishing singularity.”“I don’t know.I don’t know what they are.”“Previously undiscovered species of insects, various aquatic forms, even mice are turned up from time to time.But we haven’t overlooked any large mammals, not in an area as fully explored as the Colorado Rockies, not anywhere.The moment I hang up, call this Grady and tell him to secure those animals.Insist on it.Then wait by your phone.”“Wait for what?”“You’ll be getting a call.I had to report this.”Misgiving honed an edge on Cammy’s voice: “Report? To whom?”“To a man I know at the National Science Foundation.He gave me the name of someone at the Environmental Protection Agency, and it’s snowballed from there.”“But I contacted you as a friend.I expected discretion.”“Cammy, even as much as I like you, I can’t possibly conspire with you regarding something like this.I have professional and legal obligations to report it.”“Yeah.Okay.I guess I understand.I just didn’t realize …”Eleanor said, “Sidney Shinseki called me from Texas this morning, as soon as he read your e-mail.We reported this together.Anyone in our positions would have done the same.”“I see.Of course.”“Now call Grady and make sure those animals are secured.Then wait by your phone.I think the name of the man calling you will be Paul Jardine.He works out of Denver, I believe.”“What’re they going to do?” Cammy asked.“The authorities? They’ll take custody of the animals.”“And then what?”“Then you’re out of it.You didn’t steal the animals.You’re cooperating, doing the right thing.”“No, I mean then what happens to Puzzle and Riddle?”“Research animals have embedded microchips under the skin of their necks.Or at least ear tattoos.They’ll be easy to trace.”“Then … they’ll be sent back where they came from, to the lab.”Evidently hearing a note of dismay in Cammy’s voice, Eleanor said, “You know that’s where they belong.They don’t belong in the wild.”“I wish you could see them.”“Get straight about this, Cammy.If you turn the animals loose, you could be criminally prosecuted.”“Okay.I get it.”“Do you get it?”“I totally get it.”“Good.”“I don’t know what I was thinking.I’m embarrassed.I was caught up in the … the magic of it.I should have realized.”“Make Grady secure the animals.Then wait by your phone.”“All right.”“I’m sorry, Cammy.If I snapped at you, I mean.”“I was a little obtuse.I needed a snap.”“We’ll talk later,” Eleanor said, and hung up.Cammy pushed the end button on her cordless phone.She did not at once call Grady.She touched the cold windowpane again.The day would quickly grow warmer, though not as warm as Sunday.A change in the weather was coming.Deciding against taking the time to shower, Cammy quickly dressed in a sweater, jeans, and boots.Using her cell phone, she called Cory Hern, her senior vet tech, and put him in charge of the office for the day.Any cases he and Ben Aikens couldn’t deal with should be referred to the usual competitors whom she backed up when they were on vacation.The house phone rang as she returned to the bedroom.The caller was Paul Jardine.“Some of us are en route, and I’ll be airborne in half an hour.” He had the demeanor and the melodic voice of a game-show host.“As I understand it, the two individuals are with Mr.Grady Adams.”“That’s right.” Jardine recited an address, and Cammy said, “Yes
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