Chum

We fall into thoughtful silence as we make our way towards the zoo's central plaza, where most of the food vendors are located. The smell of grilled food and popcorn fills the air, making my stomach growl audibly.

"Okay," Tasha says, laughing at the sound. "I think that's our cue to take a lunch break. What are you in the mood for?"

I scan the various food stands, considering our options. There's the usual array of fast food and snacks - hot dogs, burgers, pizza slices. But there's also a few healthier options, including a salad bar and a stand selling wraps and smoothies.

"How about we split a pizza?" I suggest, eyeing the line at the pizza stand. "I'm in the mood for something greasy and terrible for me."

Tasha grins, nodding in agreement. "Sounds perfect. I'll grab us a table while you order?"

I nod, and we split up. As I wait in line for our food, I find my mind wandering back to our conversation about the Kingdom. What could they possibly want with the zoo? Are we missing something obvious, or is this just another dead end?

By the time I reach the front of the line, I'm no closer to an answer. I order a large pepperoni pizza and two sodas, then make my way over to where Tasha has claimed a table near the center of the plaza.

"So," I say as I set down our food, "any brilliant insights while I was gone?"

Tasha shakes her head, reaching for a slice of pizza. "Nope. Still as stumped as before. Maybe we're overthinking this. Maybe the zoo was just a random location they picked to throw us off the scent."

I frown, considering the possibility. "Maybe. But that doesn't feel right, you know? The Kingdom doesn't strike me as the type to do things randomly."

We eat in silence for a few minutes, both lost in thought. The pizza is greasy and delicious, exactly what I needed after a morning of walking around. As I'm starting on my second slice, a thought occurs to me.

"Hey, what if it's not about the animals at all?" I say, my mouth still half-full of pizza. "What if it's about the land the zoo is on? Or the buildings?"

Tasha raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."

I swallow my bite, wiping my mouth with a napkin. "Well, think about it. The zoo takes up a huge chunk of prime real estate in the city. What if the Kingdom is planning some kind of development project? Or maybe they want to use the zoo as a front for something else entirely?"

Tasha nods slowly, her eyes lighting up with understanding. "That… actually makes a lot of sense. The zoo would be perfect cover for all sorts of illegal activities. Lots of foot traffic to hide suspicious movements, plenty of storage space, a legitimate reason for strange deliveries…"

"Exactly," I say, feeling a spark of excitement. "And with Richardson on the City Council now, they might have the political clout to push through whatever changes they need."

We look at each other, the same realization dawning on both our faces. This could be it. This could be the breakthrough we've been looking for.

"We need to tell the others," Tasha says, already reaching for her phone. "This could be huge."

I nod, feeling a mix of excitement and dread. If we're right about this, it means we're one step closer to figuring out the Kingdom's plan. But it also means we're in for one hell of a fight.

As Tasha starts texting the team, I lean back in my chair, surveying the plaza. Families and couples are scattered around, enjoying their lunch, completely oblivious to the potential danger lurking just beneath the surface of their peaceful day at the zoo.

I catch sight of another police officer making his rounds, and for once, I'm grateful for the increased security. We're going to need all the help we can get if we're going to take on the Kingdom.

After we finish our pizza, Tasha and I decide to explore the rest of the zoo. We've still got a good chunk of the afternoon left, and who knows? Maybe we'll stumble across something else that could be useful. Plus, I'm kind of curious to see what other weird animals Tasha's going to geek out over.

We make our way towards the reptile house, Tasha practically bouncing with excitement. "Oh man, you're going to love this," she says, grinning. "They've got some really cool snakes in here."

I raise an eyebrow, skeptical. "Cool snakes? Isn't that kind of an oxymoron?"

She rolls her eyes, nudging me with her elbow. "Come on, give them a chance. Snakes are fascinating creatures. Did you know that some species can go months without eating?"

"Huh," I say, mildly impressed despite myself. "That's actually pretty cool. How do they do that?"

And just like that, Tasha's off, launching into an enthusiastic explanation of snake metabolism and hunting behaviors. I listen with half an ear as we enter the reptile house, the air inside noticeably warmer and more humid than outside.

The first display we come to houses a massive python, coiled around a thick branch. Its scales shimmer in the dim light, creating a hypnotic pattern of browns and golds. I find myself leaning in closer, fascinated despite my usual aversion to snakes.

"That's a reticulated python," Tasha says, her voice hushed with awe. "They're the longest snakes in the world. This one's probably about 15 feet long, but they can grow up to 30 feet in the wild."

"Jesus," I mutter, trying to imagine a snake twice as long as this one. "Remind me never to go to wherever they live in the wild."

Tasha chuckles. "They're native to Southeast Asia. But don't worry, they're not usually aggressive towards humans unless provoked."

We move on to the next display, this one housing a collection of colorful poison dart frogs. Their bright colors are a stark contrast to the muted tones of the python, almost painfully vivid in the dim light.

"These little guys are some of the most toxic animals on the planet," Tasha explains, her eyes wide with excitement. "Just one of them contains enough poison to kill ten grown men."

I take an involuntary step back from the display. "Okay, that's terrifying. Why would anyone want to keep something that dangerous?"

Tasha shrugs. "They're important for medical research. A lot of their toxins have potential pharmaceutical applications. Plus, they're not dangerous in captivity. They get their toxicity from their diet in the wild."

We continue through the reptile house, Tasha providing a running commentary on each species we encounter. I have to admit, some of them are pretty impressive. The Komodo dragon, with its prehistoric appearance and powerful build. The Gila monster, with its beaded skin and venomous bite. Even the tiny leaf-tailed gecko, nearly invisible against its backdrop of branches and leaves.

As we're about to exit the reptile house, something catches my eye. Or rather, someone. A small, mousey woman with short dark hair and glasses, peering intently into one of the terrariums. There's something familiar about her, but I can't quite place it…

Then she turns slightly, and I feel my whole body go rigid.

I grab Tasha's arm, probably harder than necessary. "Tash," I hiss, nodding towards the woman. "Don't move."

Tasha follows my gaze, her eyes narrowing. "What?"

I'm already moving, my body tensed for a fight. But before I can take more than a couple steps, Mrs. Xenograft turns and spots us. Her eyes narrow behind her glasses, and she holds up a hand in a clear 'stop' gesture.

"I wouldn't if I were you, Miss Small," she says, her voice calm and clinical. "This is a public place, after all. We wouldn't want to cause a scene, would we?"

I freeze, caught off guard by her casual tone. Tasha comes up beside me, her presence a steadying force.

"What are you doing here?" I demand, trying to keep my voice low.

Mrs. Xenograft sighs, as if I've just asked a particularly stupid question. "I'm here to look at the animals, of course. That is generally what one does at a zoo, is it not?"

I blink, thrown off balance. This… isn't how I expected this encounter to go. "But… you're…"

"Dr. Trinh-Norwood, thank you very much," she interrupts, her tone sharp. "And I'm here because I happen to enjoy animals. Is that so hard to believe?"

I exchange a bewildered look with Tasha. This has to be some kind of trick, right? Some elaborate ruse to… to what? I'm not even sure.

Dr. Trinh-Norwood - Mrs. Xenograft - whatever she wants to call herself, sighs again. "Look, I understand your suspicion. But I assure you, I'm not here on any nefarious business. I simply wanted to spend my day off appreciating some of nature's marvels. Is that really so strange?"

"Kind of, yeah," I say, unable to keep the skepticism out of my voice. "Considering, you know, everything."

She rolls her eyes, an oddly human gesture that doesn't quite fit with the conniving supervillain that I last met in a smoky nightclub a year ago. "Contrary to what you might believe, Miss Small, my entire life does not revolve around criminal activities. I have other interests. Passions, even."

"Like what?" Tasha asks, her curiosity apparently overriding her caution.

Dr. Trinh-Norwood's eyes light up, and suddenly she's off, words pouring out of her in an enthusiastic torrent. "Oh, where to begin? The intricate social structures of eusocial insects, the remarkable adaptations of deep-sea creatures, the complex symbiotic relationships in coral reefs… But do you know what really fascinates me? The public's misguided perception of certain animals. Take dolphins, for example."

I blink, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. "Dolphins?"

"Yes, dolphins," she says, her voice taking on an edge of frustration. "Everyone thinks they're these cute, friendly, intelligent creatures. The 'humans of the sea'. But do you know what they really are? Serial killers. Rapists. They're violent, aggressive animals, harassing poor pufferfish to get high off their toxins, ganging up on baby sharks to beat them to death with their snouts. But because they have a permanent smile and do a few tricks, people think they're adorable. It's infuriating!"

I exchange another look with Tasha, both of us clearly out of our depth here. This is… not at all what I expected when I woke up this morning.

"That's… fascinating," Tasha says carefully. "But, uh, if you don't mind me asking… why are you telling us all this?"

Dr. Trinh-Norwood blinks, as if suddenly remembering who she's talking to. "Because you seemed like you wanted to know more about animals. Is that not why you're at the zoo?"

Tasha and I both stare at her, unsure how to even respond. "What?" Tasha asks, slow and small.

"We were more wondering why you're here," I say, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "And what the Kingdom might want with a zoo."

Her expression shutters, the enthusiasm draining away. "Ah. I see. Well, in that case, I should probably inform you that I'm wearing a wire - inspired by recent events." She opens her sweater coat slightly, revealing a small device taped to her chest. "So you might want to be careful about what you say in public, Miss Small. Some people might take offense."

I feel my stomach drop. Shit. This complicates things.

"Is that a threat?" I ask, my voice low.

She shakes her head, looking almost… disappointed? "No, Miss Small. It's a warning. For your own good. There are people involved in this who are far less… understanding than I am. It would be better for everyone if you simply stayed out of our way."

"And why should I believe anything you say?" I challenge, feeling my temper rising despite the warning bells going off in my head.

Dr. Trinh-Norwood sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Because, contrary to what you might believe, I have no personal vendetta against you or your little team. My involvement with the Kingdom is purely financial. A job, nothing more. If it were up to me, I'd much rather spend my time studying the fascinating intricacies of the animal kingdom than dealing with human politics and criminality."

I open my mouth to argue, but Tasha cuts in before I can. "So why do it at all? Why work for them if you don't believe in what they're doing?"

For a moment, Dr. Trinh-Norwood's mask slips, and I catch a glimpse of something… tired. Frustrated. "Because research grants don't pay the bills, Miss… I'm sorry, I don't believe I caught your name."

"Tasha," she supplies, even after I shoot her a warning glance.

"Tasha," Dr. Trinh-Norwood nods. "The sad reality is that my work, my true passion, requires funding. Funding that is not always easy to come by through traditional channels. The Kingdom provides that funding, no questions asked. In return, I provide my expertise when required. It's a simple transaction."

I feel my fists clench at my sides. "So you're willing to hurt people, to help criminals, just for money?"

She looks at me, her gaze steady behind her glasses. "I'm willing to do what's necessary to continue my work. The work that I believe will actually make a difference in this world. Not running around in costumes playing at being heroes and villains."

I feel like I've been slapped. "We're not playing at anything," I spit out. "We're trying to protect people. To make the city safer."

Dr. Trinh-Norwood's expression softens slightly. "I know you believe that, Miss Small. But the world is not as simple as you seem to think it is. There are no clear-cut heroes and villains, no matter how much you might wish there were. There are just people, all trying to survive and pursue their passions in whatever way they can."

Before I can respond, a pair of men in dark suits appear at Dr. Trinh-Norwood's side. They don't look at us, keeping their attention focused solely on her.

"Dr. Trinh-Norwood," one of them says, his voice low and respectful. "Your car is ready."

She nods, then turns back to us. "Well, it seems our little chat has come to an end. It was… interesting, talking with you both. I do hope you'll take my advice to heart, Miss Small. For your own sake."

And with that, she's gone, escorted away by the two men. Tasha and I are left standing there, staring after her, both of us too stunned to speak.