Koala Killer Ninteenth Installment

Outside, as Cass was pushing her along, she could hardly wait to talk to him, "This in-tandem arrangement is not the best for talking. Let's go into the Aviary and find a quiet bench."

"Yes, Madam," Cass answered in his best butler tone.

Once settled, she started sharing her fears, "Why would Jeannie shout, 'That's him, don't let him get away"?

"I don't know."

"Now that I think about it, she could have been warning that elephant keeper, rather than helping the police. Could that be?"

"I don't know."

"Stop saying I don't know."

"Well, what do you think? You know her. Could she be in on whatever's going on?"

"Maybe, but probably not. I'm so confused. The whole thing is too wild."

"We can leave that sort of thing to the police, surely."

Tired of the whole thing, Mari looked around the aviary. It was one of her favorite places in the zoo. She noticed an elaborate nest.

"Look Cass, a weaver's nest. That would be the male working on it. See?"

"You say that's the male?"

"Yes, when he's finished he'll display and prance around, to attract the female."

"Looks like a group of students are coming in. Want to move on?"

"Might be faster to wait them out. Aviaries aren't dramatic enough for most youngsters to linger. Watch."

Sure enough, most of them dashed in, ran around the path, and were ready to leave in minutes. One little boy lingered. He seemed fascinated by the Hornbills. They're good-sized birds that walk around on the ground curiously cocking their heads from side to side. His classmates had moved on to the tortoise display by the time the quiet boy had made his way around to the aviary exit.

"A future birder, perhaps,"Cass remarked.

"He's got promise. I was like that when I was his age."

"Point made."

"I have a sudden feeling. An idea. Let's go over to the elephant exhibit."

Cass wheeled her down the path, past the Australian Outback area bordered by Eucalyptus trees, to the elephants in the African Plains section located in the southeast area of the zoo.

"I'm not used to this weather anymore, Mari. I'm getting awfully hot. After we see the elephants can I take you somewhere cool for lunch?"