Enigma at the Greensboro Zoo (Ultimate Ending Book 4) Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Series

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Introduction/Explanation

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  25

  26

  27

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  29

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  31

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  33

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  40

  41

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  50

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  129

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  134

  135

  136

  137

  138

  139

  140

  141

  142

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  148

  149

  150

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  153

  154

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  169

  170

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  About the Authors

  Bookmark

  Notes

  Notes

  Ultimate Ending

  Book 4

  Enigma

  At The

  Greensboro Zoo

  Check out the full

  ULTIMATE ENDING BOOKS

  Series:

  Treasures of the Forgotten City

  The House on Hollow Hill

  The Ship at the Edge of Time

  Enigma at the Greensboro Zoo

  The Secret of the Aurora Hotel

  The Strange Physics of the Heidelberg Laboratory

  The Tower of Never There

  Copyright © 2016 Ultimate Ending

  www.UltimateEndingBooks.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior consent of the authors.

  Cover design by Milan Jaram www.MilanJaram.com

  Internal artwork by Jaime Buckley www.jaimebuckley.com

  Enjoyed this book? Please take the time to leave a review on Amazon.

  Dedicated to Grace Gifford;

  I've never seen a bluebird more loved.

  Welcome to Ultimate Ending,

  where YOU choose the story!

  That's right -- everything that happens in this book is a result of decisions YOU make. So choose wisely!

  But also be careful. Throughout this book you'll find tricks and traps, trials and tribulations! Most you can avoid with common sense and a logical approach to problem solving. Others will require a little bit of luck. Having a coin handy, or a pair of dice, will make your adventure even more fun. So grab em' if you got em'!

  Along the way you'll also find tips, clues, and even items that can help you in your quest. You'll meet people. Pick stuff up. Taking note of these things is often important, so while you're gathering your courage, you might also want to grab yourself a pencil and a sheet of paper.

  Keep in mind, there are many ways to end the story. Some conclusions are good... some not so good.

  Some of them are even great!

  But remember:

  There is only ONE

  ULTIMATE

  ENDING!

  7

  Welcome to the Greensboro Zoo!

  You are KATY RODRIGUEZ, a Corporal in the Greensboro City Police Department. Not only are you one of the city's finest in uniform, but you're the top candidate for promotion to Sergeant next month. You've been working hard, putting in the extra hours, and it's all finally about to pay off.

  All you need to do is coast until then, and not screw up.

  You leave the small convenience store with two coffees in hand, and climb into the driver side of your police cruiser. "Dude, you got me decaf, right?" asks JERRY HOLMAN, your patrol partner.

  "Yes," you say, handing him his cup. He's a good policeman, but a bit of a old grouch. And he whines a lot.

  "Two sugars, no cream," you add as he opens his mouth to ask. "And don't call me dude!"

  His mouth closes and he nods thankfully. "Why are you drinking the strong stuff?" he asks, glancing at his watch. "We've only got an hour until shift's over."

  "I'm hoping to catch the second half of the game," you say, testing the temperature of the coffee. The Greensboro Gryphons are two games from making the playoffs, and this will be one of the few nights you get home in time to see any of the game.

  Jerry shrugs. "Me, I'm going to get some much needed sleep."

  "All you do is sleep," you tease.

  "Hey, some of us enjoy a rest. We can't all bust our butts to make Sergeant!"

  You think of another joke, but bite it back. You have been busting your butt, and it's nice to hear someone say so.

  Suddenly your radio crackles to life. "Unit 41. Unit 41. Come in."

  Uh oh. That's you.

  8

  You move your coffee to your other hand and grab the radio receiver. "This is Unit 41, over."

  "Please hold for Captain Beckett." The radio goes silent.

  You share a look with Jerry. Captain Beckett? It'
s rare for one of the station chiefs to get on the dispatch radio.

  The speaker hisses with static before the Captain's voice sounds. "Officer Rodriguez? Officer Holman?"

  "We're here, Captain."

  "Good, good, uhh..." he pauses to take a deep breath. "There's a disturbance at the Greensboro City Zoo. I need you to take a look."

  Jerry groans.

  "Sir," you say, "we're six miles from there. Surely there's a patrol that's closer."

  "I trust you with this, Rodriguez," he says gruffly. "Are you saying you can't handle it?"

  "Of course not, sir," you quickly say. "What kind of disturbance?"

  There's a long silence on the radio. "Our details are fuzzy. They'll tell you when you get there."

  "But we get off in an hour," Jerry whispers.

  You hold a finger up to shush him. "Roger that, Captain."

  "I'm counting on you, Rodriguez," Captain Beckett says ominously. The radio goes dead.

  You and Jerry sit there for a few quiet moments.

  "There goes my extra sleep," Jerry mutters.

  "Oh quit whining," you say. "We'll pop over there and take care of it in a pinch."

  Jerry takes the coffee from your hand. "Well then you'd better give me the strong stuff."

  9

  The police siren wails and flashes as you wind through the city. Five minutes later you're whizzing past the "Welcome to the Greensboro City Zoo" sign and screeching to a stop in the parking lot.

  You and Jerry climb out of the car simultaneously. Although it's well past the zoo's closing hours, the massive metal gates stand wide open. A few pieces of paper blow through the opening.

  "That's weird," Jerry says.

  You nod. You've got a strange feeling about this.

  Your boots crunch along the pavement as you approach. A flock of colorful birds flutter into the air as you pass through the gates and into the zoo walkway, but nothing scarier than that.

  Ahead of you is the Visitor Center, where tickets and souvenirs are sold. There's some sort of red light on inside the window. A shadow passes in front of it.

  Involuntarily, your hand touches your pistol holster. "Who's there!" you call out. "This is the Greensboro Police Department!"

  The man steps out from the building. In the moonlight you see that he's young, like an intern, wearing a zoo uniform with green suspenders. "Oh thank goodness you're here," he says, frantic. "I'm not cut out for this. Way above my skill level."

  You relax. "Calm down. Can you tell us what's going on?"

  "I've gotta get out of here," he says, pushing past you.

  "Hey, wait!" Jerry yells as the intern makes a break for the entrance.

  "You're safe with us," you add. "We're trained officers with weapons."

  "You're going to need more than that!" the intern yells. "There's tranquilizer rifles in the Warden's Hut, if you can get there!" And with that he disappears into the darkness.

  You glance at Jerry. He's too stunned to speak.

  10

  The lights are off in the Visitor Center, and you realize that reddish glow was an emergency light over the doorway. "Looks like the power is out," you say.

  Jerry points. "The door to the employee office is in the corner."

  You head over to the door, which has, "Employees Only" printed in big yellow letters. There's an electronic keypad next to the door, with numbers 1-9 glowing. There must be a backup generator to keep the emergency systems online.

  Thankfully the door is wide open, so you slip inside.

  There are desks and file cabinets filled with papers. The only illumination comes from another emergency light above the doorway, and a single computer screen across the room.

  Jerry grabs a medical kit from the desk. "Why's that computer on?"

  "Must be on the backup circuit," you say, stepping up to it. There's an email open:

  Jeremy, as the only member of the night crew it's imperative that you get the systems back online. Get to the Maintenance Shed and enable the backup power. If you need protection from Project Fusion then retrieve a tranq rifle from the Warden Hut. You know the code.

  -Warden Oxford

  And a response:

  Respectfully, sir: you're out of your mind! I'm not trained for that kind of work, and it would only make her ANGRY! I've called the police. Let them take care of it. I'm getting out of here.

  -Jeremy

  "Huh," Jerry says after reading. "What's Project Fusion?"

  You shake your head. "I don't know, but it sounds dangerous. It's a good thing you grabbed that medical kit. We'd better call the Captain."

  Call for backup ON PAGE 14

  11

  The path through the woods winds around the side of the Insect Enclosure. It's clear that the zoo has been meticulously landscaped to give a certain wilderness feel. Jungle fronds the size of surf boards hang down over the path, blocking much of your view. You're forced to push them aside with one hand while holding your flashlight with the other.

  A rain begins falling, pattering against the enormous leaves. "Maybe inside would have been better," you say.

  "Dude..." Jerry mutters, pointing up at the building. "I don't think so."

  Up on the roof of the Insect Enclosure, just above the second floor, is an enormous hole. It's the size of a small car, with claw marks on the side. It looks like Wolverine ripped his way free!

  "I guess it's a good thing we didn't go up there, huh?" Jerry says.

  You give the hole one final look before turning away. "I guess so."

  "Do you think it was that Project Fusion, or whatever?"

  You shake your head in wonder. "I don't know what could cause something like that, but Project Fusion sure sounds crazy enough. Maybe we can find more information about it in the park."

  "Maybe."

  Continue along the path ON PAGE 30

  12

  It should have been obvious, you realize. Droppings everywhere, and those strange dark objects on the ceiling blocking the glass.

  Jerry and you raise your eyes to the ceiling as one. Up there, among the metal rafters, are birds.

  Hundreds of birds.

  Jerry swallows audibly. "Well as long as they stay up there..."

  Three birds jump off their perches and begin circling the ceiling, a hundred feet above you. Their wings are incredibly wide, like surfboards.

  "Stay calm," you say. "We're going to quietly walk to the exit and--"

  One of the birds pulls its wings close to its body. It's diving toward you.

  "Run!"

  Jerry takes off, with you close behind. The birds above begin to screech. You get halfway to the exit when you realize you're not going to make it. The bird is growing fast, wind whipping at its dark feathers. You're going to have to throw yourself to the ground to avoid it. And it will be there any second.

  FLIP TWO COINS! How many times did it land heads?

  If it landed heads 0 times, GO TO PAGE 58

  If it landed heads 1 time, GO TO PAGE 37

  If it landed heads 2 times, GO TO PAGE 20

  13

  At the center of the observation area is a ring of railing, keeping people from falling down inside the animal area. You walk all around the railing, searching the knocked over tables and other debris all around. There's nothing there that can help you, just a bunch of junk: a Greensboro Gryphons jersey, some empty food wrappers, and a plastic bag blowing across the floor.

  You step up to the railing and look down inside the pit. It's a mostly grassy enclosure, with a small lake down on the left and several wooden logs scattered about. At one end is a dark cave that leads somewhere deeper inside.

  Something shiny catches your attention. You squint down and see a golden coin sitting on one of the logs.

  The Tower Token!

  You take stock of the area. The railing only comes up to your chest, so you should be able to jump over... but then it's a twenty foot drop to the ground. And once down there, how will you get out?


  But getting that token seems important. You lift your foot and prepare to jump over.

  "Hey!" Jerry suddenly calls out. "Check this out!"

  Follow his voice OVER TO PAGE 66

  14

  The phones are down--which is probably why the intern used email to communicate--but thankfully you've got your radio. "Dispatch, this is officer Rodriguez, over."

  A few minutes later and you're connected to the Captain. "Huh?" he asks.

  "Sir, the place is deserted. The only night employee just ran away like he'd seen a ghost! The power is out too." You quickly fill him in on the details of the email.

  Captain Beckett clears his throat when you finish. "Well..."

  Suddenly there is a rumble outside. You and Jerry run to the window just in time to see a huge, hulking shape. As it comes into view the moonlight glistens off two long, ivory tusks.

  An elephant!

  15

  You watch in stunned silence as it lumbers past and walks out the gate, into the street. "Duuude..." whispers Jerry.

  "And I think the animals are loose," you add to the radio. "I'm officially requesting backup. We need animal control in here."

  The Captain sighs. "Okay, I'm going to be straight with you, Rodriguez. Warden Oxford is an old friend of mine, and he needs our help. We've already contacted animal control, but they won't be there for two hours. I need to you to do whatever cleanup you can until then. Try to contain as many of the animals as possible. And close those gates, so no more animals get out! I don't know why the power is out, but figure it out."

  "But sir, we're not qualified for this sort of thing."

  "If you take care of this," he adds, "that promotion is as good as yours. If you don't... well. Carry on then. And oh, make sure you don't harm any of the animals."

  "What?" Jerry blurts out.

  "I'm serious, Holman. Lock your sidearm in the police cruiser, so you're not tempted to use it. Injured animals are a PR nightmare. Understood?"