Chapter 29 Wednesday, 2000 hours (8 PM)

Rom spent some time in Elliot's car, explaining what it meant to be a werewolf and gave his reasons for not letting Elliot eat the human flesh that used to be his partner.

"Once you eat human flesh," said Rom, "your Elso Lecke treatment will be more difficult."

"Elso Lecke?"

" It means 'the first lesson' in Hungarian. It's the aversion treatment all werewolves get to make them civilized, and not people killers. Chaba will take care of all that."

"Good," said Elliot. "You know, this is great. I'm an animal freak, and now I'm an animal."

"It's going to be hard keeping this from your family," said Rom.

"I don't have a family. Neither did Sam," said Elliot. "We're FBI."

Rom used Elliot's car phone and made arrangements for Elliot to get together with Chaba after the zoo matter was concluded. Then Rom said he had to go off to try to find Derek and the kids.

"I'll come too," said Elliot.

"Na. It's too dangerous. I'm a scout leader, and I know how to be stealthy in the woods," Rom opened the car door. "But what about you? Can you manage until I get back?"

"Yes," Elliot laughed. "I'm sure I can. I've not been a Boy Scout for some time, but the Bureau provides some pretty good instruction."

"Good," said Rom. "Then when I get back, We'll try to come up with a way to get us all out."

"Don't worry about me," said Elliot, smiling. "I think it would be best for me if I simply vanished for a while. You needn't come looking for me."

Rom gave him a quizzical look and then slipped out of the car to begin his search. The first place to try was the snow leopard enclosure. When he got there, he found Jeffrey, and also his Cub Scouts. The cage was unlocked. Jeffrey explained that Jack had gotten a change of heart, and was trying to make amends for all the rotten things he'd done.

"Where's Cat?" asked Rom.

"Jack took him to Joshua"

"What?"

"Jack said Joshua wanted to explain why he'd done all those bad things to a kid, so the kid could tell everyone else. Cat said he'd like to do it. And he went off with Jack. But..."

"But what?"

"Well, we thought we heard a scream. It sounded like Cat, so my dad went out to see what was going on. I hope Cat's OK."

Rom was torn. He wanted to rush out to see about Kit, but he didn't want to leave the kids. In this crazy zoo, anything could happen. He decided to let Derek handle it.

A few minutes later Rom changed his mind. If there was one thing he didn't have, it was patience. Rom explained that he was going out to investigate, but before he could leave, he saw a cart coming toward the enclosure.