Did Not Survive Read Free Page A

deliver. I could not ask for more.” This was a stock compliment, worn thin. He looked over his audience. “I will be acting foreman at least until we understand the situation better. I will request that the National Association of Zoos send a professional committee to investigate. Occupational Safety and Health Administration will no doubt participate, and the police may also, at least until the nature of the accident is clear. I ask that you not discuss this event with the press, but instead refer all inquiries to me. Your assignments remain as before. I will keep you informed. The zoo will be closed today. Thank you.”
    Sam stood up, tall, lanky, graying, a senior keeper with thirty-five years at this zoo. “If I could say something.”
    Mr. Crandall nodded warily.
    â€œI’d like to thank Iris for her good work this morning. She got the girls shifted, and it would have been hell to pay if she hadn’t. And my personal appreciation to Hap for holding fire and giving it an extra minute.” He paused, either to let that sink in or to regain control of his voice. “I’d like to add that Damrey would never have hurt Wallace in a thousand years. I don’t know what happened, but she didn’t attack him.” He sat down.
    I understood now why he’d left Ian at the barn and come to the meeting. Damrey would not take the rap if he could help it. He hadn’t seen her mauling Wallace, and he wasn’t ready to believe it.
    Mr. Crandall nodded impassively, said “Thank you,” and left us.
    We moved out of the room, little wiser than when we entered, and some of us paused outside under the roof overhang. Not Sam—he headed for the elephant barn with his long stride, no word to anyone. This was a terrible situation for him, and it wouldn’t end any time soon.
    Hap biffed me on the shoulder and took off for the Commissary.
    Dr. Reynolds stood a little apart in her white lab coat, staring into space. She was tall, almost my height, slender without looking frail, attractive in an understated, sober way. Long, loose brown hair framed a narrow, serious face. Her “uniform” consisted of brown twill pants, a gray turtleneck sweater, and a short white lab coat. Never any makeup or jewelry. She’d had a few years of experience, including working with wildlife in Africa, but this was her first job as the sole veterinarian at a zoo. She’d been with Finley Memorial only a few months. Today her customary professionalism was out of focus. She looked as though she’d lost track of what to do next.
    Kayla, the vet technician, waited pale and patient beside her. When Dr. Reynolds was hired, somehow the deal included hiring Kayla as well. Kayla had worked in small-animal clinics, but she was new to the zoo world. The gossip machine claimed they had been college roommates. Nobody cared much about the favoritism because, on a normal day, Kayla was a kick to have around. Shiny brown hair bouncing down her back, brown eyes enhanced with careful makeup, a tattooed garland around each wrist. Today she wore a pink, v-necked little shirt over tight jeans and earrings of pink gems. Her white lab coat was slung over an arm. The vitality and good humor had gone missing this morning.
    Linda, feline keeper and good friend, stood with me. Linda’s face was pale beneath the freckles. “Iris, are you all right? What happened?”
    Dr. Reynolds came out of her trance and listened. So did Denny, next to us.
    I said, “I have no idea. The cows were bellowing, and I walked in to see Wallace face down in Damrey’s stall. She was all over him with her feet and her trunk. There was blood. That’s it, that’s the lot. Except for me having a stroke trying to get those elephants shut away from him. It took forever. They were really messing with him. He might die because I don’t know crapola about elephants.”
    â€œThe docs will know,” said Denny,