Ghost of a Chance (8 page)

Frank got to his feet and followed, running beside the security guard. As they approached the edge of the forest, they heard a motorcycle start up ahead of them. In seconds the sound of the
zooming motor faded away until it was a faint hum in the distance.

“We lost him,” the security guard said. He turned to Frank. “Thanks for the try. You almost had him.”

Frank identified himself as one of the film's crew and gave the guard a description of the man with the backpack.

“I thought I recognized you,” the guard said. “You're one of the animal wranglers, right?”

“Right,” Frank said. “Who was this guy, do you know?”

“Not sure,” the guard said as they walked back to the set. “One of the guys in editing called. Says he saw this guy sneaking around. He called him on it, and the man had no ID. He could be somebody we've been watching for—a real troublemaker.”

“Who?” Frank asked.

“Now, you don't have to worry about that,” the guard replied. “You just keep those beasts of yours under control, and I'll take care of the trespassers. But thanks again for your help.”

The guard smiled, but Frank could tell from the man's expression that their conversation was over. Frank nodded his head and said, “Okay, see you around.”

“Yep,” the guard replied. He started to walk away but then turned back. “Say, you know that stunt guy Lavring, don't you?” he asked Frank.

“Yes—why?” Frank asked.

“I hear he's still hanging around the area—staying in town somewhere,” the guard said. “If you see him, tell him he'd better stay away. The studio means business on this one.”

“I'll tell him,” Frank said. In fact, I think I'll go tell him right now, he thought as the guard walked away.

“So you're still here, Terry,” Frank muttered to himself. “I don't know what your part is in all this, but I'm going to find out. There must be
some
reason why you haven't left.”

While Frank was driving into Crosscook to find Terry, Joe was around the mountain on the other side of the shooting location. He, Gene, and Lloyd were working with Omar, rehearsing Omar's big scene. A delay had changed the shooting schedule, and it was still a couple of hours before their scene.

The set was of the plane crash. The wreckage looked as if the plane had nosed right into the side of the mountain. At the far edge of a clearing, an abandoned cabin sat just inside the forest.

“Okay,” Gene said as Lloyd eased Omar out of the trailer. “I know we've gone over today's scene a dozen times, but one more time won't hurt. Joe, you stand in for Berk; I want to be sure we've got this cold.”

Joe nodded and mentally went over the scene in his head, picturing every move he'd make.

Omar twitched his ears and sniffed the air. “Easy … good boy,” Lloyd murmured, patting the lion's tawny head. “You hear something, do you? It's okay.” Joe knew from his training that Omar sometimes needed the reassurance of his trainer's voice to calm him.

As Lloyd spoke, Omar lifted his head, and Joe could see him relax. The animal leaned against Joe's leg and then sank to the ground to lie down. His back legs sprawled to one side, but his front legs stretched out in front, and his head was straight and alert. He reminded Joe of the Sphinx.

“Today's scene starts with a ‘long shot showing the tail of the plane jammed into the mountain,'” Gene recited, reading from the script. “ ‘Jumper emerges from the forest and moves to the wreckage of the plane.'”

Gene checked his script before continuing. “ ‘It's been a long hard search,'” he read. “ ‘Jumper's dirty, caked with blood, and woozy from hunger and thirst. He combs the area around the site of the crash, frantically searching for the missing bag. He finally limps toward the cabin.'”

Joe followed Gene's gaze to the small building. He recognized it as a model of the abandoned shack Terry had taken them to see. It was a replica of the cabin that supposedly was Jumper's hideout.

As Gene talked through the scene, Lloyd held Omar's leash loosely in his hand. Joe got the cooler of small pieces of raw chicken that would serve as Omar's food rewards during the shoot. He stuffed a plastic bag with several hunks in it into his jacket pocket.

“ ‘As Jumper is looking for the bag,'” Gene concluded, reading from the script, “ ‘Omar stalks him. At first he remains hidden, weaving in and out of the trees. Then he becomes more aggressive, growling and threatening. Finally, he crouches and leaps toward Jumper. Jumper is startled, then terrified. Omar brings him down in a terrifying wrestling match.'”

“Then we switch Jumpers,” Joe remembered.

“Right,” Lloyd said. “I'll be the stunt double for Berk during the wrestling scene.”

“We may not even get that far today,” Gene pointed out. “Dustin may want to shoot that scene separately, without a lot of onlookers.”

“Yeah, it'll be more like playtime at home,” Lloyd said, giving Omar a friendly pat. “Right, pal?”

They ran through the scene a couple of times, then stopped. Omar was acting restless. “Looks like he knows his big scene is coming up,” Joe said, grinning at Gene. The golden tan puma paced back and forth. Slowly curling his tail from side to side, he strained at the leash Lloyd held.

“I'm going to take Omar back to the trailer for some water and a rest,” Gene said. “The crew won't be arriving for half an hour. I want to talk to the cameraman, too, to make sure he knows what to do if Omar gets distracted.”

“Great,” Lloyd said, handing Gene the leash. “When you see Dustin arrive, just take Omar into the woods and wait for the cue.”

“Sounds good,” Gene said, walking Omar off.

Joe was beginning to feel pumped. It was Omar's biggest scene in the movie, and his job was to make sure the mountain lion had plenty of treats to make him comfortable.

“I wonder where Frank is,” Joe said. “He thought he'd be here for the shoot.”

“He said he was going to sign on as an extra,” Lloyd said. “He might show up later.”

“Could be,” Joe said, looking around. “He was also going to do some investigating. Maybe he's on the trail of a good lead.”

Gradually the film crew began showing up, and at last Dustin arrived. As soon as he settled into his director's chair, everyone quieted down and got ready to work.

“Okay, now, everybody, you all know the scene,” Dustin said. “Berk,” he called to the star, “are you with us?”

“I'm coming, I'm coming.” Berk walked onto the set, and applause rippled through the cast and
crew. The transformation of the actor into the character was amazing.

“Wranglers, are you ready?” Dustin asked. “Is our stand-in here?”

“Ready,” Lloyd answered. Joe walked to the mark Lloyd pointed out to him. Joe looked into the distant woods. The puma's golden tan face peeked out between the trees.

“Okay, once with the stand-in,” Dustin called out. “Then we'll try it with Berk.”

“Listen up, everyone,” Gene said. “Omar is a safe animal, as safe as a mountain lion can be, but he's still a lion and a wild animal. The first rule is this: whatever happens, don't run. If you run, you become prey.”

Joe heard a murmur of anxiety ripple through the crew.

“If there's a problem, don't run,” Lloyd repeated. “Just stand still and then do whatever we tell you. Our number-one goal is your safety. This is a difficult scene. Omar will be unleashed briefly. When he's off the leash, there's a chance he'll get curious and wander off the path. I repeat once more—if that happens, don't move. We'll take care of it.”

When he finished his announcement, Lloyd took his place at the edge of the set.

Dustin nodded at Joe. “Let's do it,” he said.

While Dustin walked Joe through the scene, the
crew took light readings and adjusted camera settings. Finally the moment came for Omar's appearance. “Okay, wrangler, it's time for the cat,” Dustin called out.

At that moment Joe's back was to the film crew. He was facing Lloyd. The puma would sneak up behind Joe, moving toward Lloyd.

“Come on, let's go, fellows.” Dustin's voice sounded behind Joe.

Then he heard Lloyd call out from the edge of the set. “Gene! Let him loose! We're … Okay, there he is. Omar just stepped out of the woods, Joe.”

Joe felt a rush. In his mind's eye, he pictured Omar stalking toward him.

Lloyd's voice pierced the image in Joe's mind. “Hold it, everyone,” the wrangler said.

Something about the change of tone in Lloyd's voice made Joe catch his breath. He heard a gasp from behind him, and then another. He turned slowly. The puma was walking toward him. Even though he knew it was a just an act, Joe still felt a spark of adrenaline shoot through his body.

“Joe, stop,” Lloyd murmured. “Don't move. That's not Omar.”

Lloyd's words sliced through the air. The puma paused and gazed at the wrangler. Then the sleek head turned back, its eyes focused on Joe. The puma's head was raised into the air, its chest billowing
as it caught a scent. Then it hunched its head down into its shoulders. Staring steadily at Joe, it stalked toward him.

It was very quiet, and Joe felt drops of sweat break out on his temples.

“What's happening, Lloyd?” Dustin asked in a low voice. “What's going on?”

“Don't anyone move,” Lloyd repeated. “I'm right behind you, Joe. I've got the tranquilizer gun. Do not raise your arms. I'm going to knock the cat out. Everyone stand very still.”

Even though Lloyd stood nearby, his voice seemed so far away to Joe. It was almost like an echo. Joe took small breaths, barely moving his chest. His body told him to run, but his mind knew he had to follow Lloyd's command.

The mountain lion stopped abruptly. Then, with a low rumbling growl, it pounced in a graceful arc aimed sraight for Joe.

Joe was trapped. The puma was in the air, leaping toward him. Lloyd was standing behind him, about to shoot the tranquilizer dart. If Joe moved, he'd be shot. If he stood still, he was lion lunch.

Joe stood transfixed, watching the puma fly through the air toward him.

“Now, Joe!” Lloyd called from behind. “Roll!”

Joe heard the
ping
of the tranquilizer dart gun firing. Remembering his training, he dropped to the ground, kicked out his feet, and rolled to one side.

Surprised by the dart's sting in its flank, the pouncing puma twisted and missed a direct hit on Joe. It bounced off Joe's legs and thudded to the ground.

Joe jumped to his feet. He could hear Lloyd's voice in his mind as he remembered the first day of training. “If you're threatened by a mountain lion,” Lloyd had said, “try to make yourself look as
big as possible. Open your coat out to make the puma think you're wider.”

As Lloyd had taught him, Joe took the corners of his open jacket and held them out wide like huge wings. Never taking his eyes off the lion, he slowly backed away.

The puma tried to rise to launch another attack on Joe, but its legs were wobbly, and it fell once more to the ground. This time it stayed.

“Everyone back away,” Lloyd said, “and leave the area.” No one needed to hear that order twice. The set was cleared in just a minute.

“Man, that was close,” Lloyd said as he lay his head on the puma's chest to double-check its heartbeat. Then he touched the puma's left ear. “This is how I knew it wasn't Omar.” Joe looked at the edge of the ear. There was a piece missing, as if something had bitten out a small hunk.

“It's a good thing—” Lloyd started to say.

“Lloyd, Omar is missing,” Gene interrupted, racing onto the set. “When I went to pick him up for the scene, he and his cage were missing. I turned to yell at you and someone punched me.”

“Are you all right?” Joe asked.

“Yeah, it was a body blow right to the gut,” Gene said. “It took all my wind. By the time I could get back here, it was too late. This puma was leaping straight at you, Joe.”

“And the chicken in your pocket,” Lloyd pointed
out. “That's probably what attracted him.” He stood up as he spoke. “We've got to get this cat locked up for now and then find Omar!”

“The trained animal's missing, and a wild animal shows up for the shoot,” Joe said. “Way too much coincidence. Someone had to set the whole thing into motion—just another way to disrupt the filming.”

“But this time it was dangerous and could have been deadly,” Gene pointed out. “Although this couldn't be an entirely wild puma,” he added.

“What do you mean?” Joe asked.

“A really wild puma would never wander into an area with people standing around,” Gene said while Lloyd checked the lion's pulse and examined its eyes. He wanted to make sure it wasn't having a bad reaction to the tranquilizer.