The Case of the Bear Cubs Loss

By Luciana Correa

Liam, Noah, Emma and Olivia are quite happy. They were invited to visit British Columbia bear Park! They are going together with their father who is studying the Bear population. The famous geneticist is involved in the protection of the furry beasts. Doctor Cole, the vet in charge of the project is also a scientist and he is glad to count on Armadi's help. At their arrival, they face an unexpected situation. All the momma bears accounted for the project have lost their cubs! The twins can't accept that! How can seven-pound babies disappear? How is it possible if anyone with a brain knows that momma bears are not fun to deal with when their cubs are involved? They know they will solve the mystery. We know it'll be thrilling!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luciana Correa
• Release date: May 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311525482

Luciana Correa

I'm an indie writer and a teacher. Right now I'm full time as a writer.I'm Brazilian and I started writing as a recovering therapy after a brain tumor.It was intended to help me organize my toughts and as a result a trilogy was born.It was a success in Brazil. It got the Second place in the category and I've published it in English this month.

Book preview

THE CASE

OF THE

BEAR CUBS

LOSS

THE TWINS #1

Luciana Correa

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Copyright 2016

By Luciana Correa

Disclaimer

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Acknowledgements

I couldn’t publish this book without thanking those who invest their lives in nature protection.

Their work is a sure source of touching experiences with animals.

I also thank those who love outdoor activities because the photos they provide are also a sure source of inspiration.

To everyone who loves nature I give thanks.

You rock, guys!

Dedication

I dedicate this book to everyone who is even marginally involved in protecting our blue home.

I hope you can feel love pouring out of this book, because love is the main ingredient I put into the creation of the characters that represent the youth I dream to see.

Young people devoted and ready to fight for nature.

Contents

Disclaimer

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

01 One

Leah and Paul Armadi make an amazing couple.

They live with their children in a small town, close to the woods in Montana, but a lot of things happened before that.

Leah was an architect and was very successful. She had become famous in her field of expertise because of her love for nature that she turned into passion for environment protection. She was the name everyone who wanted a house in the country thought of. Energy saving, systems for conscious use for water, and residue recycling were a given in her buildings. In fact, any facility located where nature needed to be preserved was a potential client for her. Remodeling some of the old ones to make them environment-friendly was also in her résumé.

Armadi worked in a totally different field. He was a geneticist. He met Leah when she was attending one of his lectures. It was about genetics as a means of helping endangered species. After the event, they talked, and it was love at first sight. They had their first date that same week.

Paul proposed over the most amazing dinner few months later. They had the whole combo: candle lights, music of violins and the ring offered while he was on one knee. Leah had become deliriously happy, and said her I will, without a blink. They got married, and went to India on their honeymoon. The couple went to the jungle, a place where their passion for scenery could be met fully.

Many days of love and thousands of pictures later, they started their married life.

Paul Armadi had a wonderful property in Brazil. The Amazon forest covered miles of his land. It was the perfect place for people who loved nature above everything.

Paul and Leah love to watch the sunrise. That’s what they were doing, sitting on a wide swing on the porch, when he offered Leah a surprising possibility.

Red and pink brushes were already coloring the dark blue sky.

It’s always so amazingly beautiful. I’m the happiest woman in the world, Leah sighed happily. Who else but you would invest in a house in such a paradise place?

Armadi kissed her hair and whispered. I’d love to have the perfect kids with you.

Leah giggled. We are amazing, love, but no kid is perfect.

He shook his head. I can make the perfect babies for us.

You are very confident.

She lifted her eyebrows mockingly and he smiled widely. It’s not what I meant.

No? She snorted. You have just let me down.

He stood up and offered her his hand. Stop kidding and come along. I need to show you something.

After driving for some minutes into the forest, they had to leave the car.

Where are we going, Paul? Leah was dumbfounded. We’ve never been this far.

The place I’m about to show you is a secret, Armadi explained. It was built here so that I could work without the risk of being asked lots of questions.

Leah frowned. Why would you be afraid of questions?

I’m a geneticist, Leah. I’m not bragging, but my name is one of the most famous in the job.

Don’t tell me, she snickered. I was attending one of your lectures when we first met, remember?

Sure, of course you were. What happens is that everything I do becomes of interest to those who work in my research field. They love to put their noses in my projects. Some don’t really care for any boundaries.

She could understand that, so she nodded. He helped her climbing a high tree root and continued. I’ve been working with things that can be very attractive to many powerful people.

Leah placed her hand on his, ducking to avoid the low branches. I read you have been able to isolate genes.

It’s common ground for every geneticist that isolating them is just the beginning of the real work. I dedicate to studying the genes ability to make links with compatible receptors.

TMI, she hissed.

Okay, Armadi chuckled. I read you. Back to my point, my work can attract the attention of military people.

She stopped short. I’d never known you were involved with them.

He shook his head. I am not, and I have no intention of changing my way.

The geneticist pointed at a structure ahead of them. It was built like a hut. Nothing but the average houses in the area. We’re going there.

They walked some more feet and Armadi stopped in front of a wooden door with no lock. Ready?

Leah shrugged. Sure.

They entered the shanty. It had a simple decoration. There was a rugged table and two chairs were near it; there was a cot with clean sheets and a pillow in a corner; there was a stove, and beside it there was woodpile. Everything was clean, but it was evident that the little house wasn’t used frequently.

Leah turned her eyes to her husband questioningly. Do you come here to relax? I mean, when you need to be alone to think?

I’ve never thought of using the place for that, he looked around as if seeing the little hut for the first time. It looks perfect, doesn’t it?

She lifted an eyebrow. Are you kidding?

Armadi chuckled. Sorry. Let me show you what we came here to see.

He walked to the cot, and Leah followed his actions frowning. Had she married a Looney?

He was putting his hand under the thin mattress, lifting it a bit. It seemed purposeless, because he let it fall again just after. The scientist pulled out his cell phone from his pocket.

You won’t have reception here, Paul, Leah murmured, surprised. He should know that.

Oh, of course not, he agreed, but ignored it anyway, and typed something on the phone. She heard a soft humming under her feet.

Would you come here, love? Armadi asked, offering her his hand.

She took it, and he turned her to face the little stove. Putting his hands on her shoulders, Paul pulled her toward his body kindly, and she felt her back touch his muscled chest. Just watch, he whispered in her ear.

Everything in his actions and words was making Leah nervous; she swallowed hard, feeling pretty uneasy. She wished she had told her brother about her latest decisions.

In fact, she had been swept off her feet by Armadi. She had married the man, left on her honeymoon, and never stopped to tell Mark any of that.

He was a good brother, but growing up, the ten-year-age difference between the two siblings had never made possible a close relationship. They weren’t the best friends or confidents. Otherwise, Mark was the protector. He would die for her, but they didn’t talk frequently.

Leah would meet Mark for Christmas, as always, and she had decided it was the best moment to introduce her husband to her brother. Everything accounted, nobody knew where she was, and nothing had prepared Leah for what would happen.

The hut didn’t have a floor which was a common thing to the poor houses in the forest area; it was simply the dirt ground itself.

The humming she had heard got a bit higher, and the ground suddenly collapsed into itself, causing some loose chunks of dirt to fall below.

Leah shrieked and put her hand over her mouth. Her eyes were wide with surprise. The collapsed floor had opened to bright light, coming from an underground facility.

What is it Armadi? She was trembling. Why is it a secret? What do you do here?

The scientist lifted an amazed eyebrow. You look frightened.

Because I am, she hissed. I don’t know you that much, to be true. You have a hut in the middle of nowhere whose floor collapses like it’s from a spy movie scene. As far as I know, it could be anything.

I love you, Armadi shook his head, smiling. I’d never do you any harm.

She winced. No, I didn’t think you would, but I’m afraid of what you do there.

It’s a lab, he shrugged, I do what scientists do in a lab. And it’s hidden for the reasons I told you while we were walking here. It’s where I work on my project.

It calmed her down a little. He had spoken about it indeed. Okay, I can buy that. Perhaps, I’m overreacting.

No problem. I know it’s surprising. Come along.

He pointed at the bright light coming from the underground facility and they walked to the ladder, going to the lab.

The facility was amazing. Big bucks had been invested in it.

Leah was agape. It’s sci-fi. And it looks worth millions.

It’s really expensive, I can give you that, he nodded but shrugged. Although, there’s nothing fictional here. It’s technology. It is science.

Who paid for that, she asked walking around and touching the stellar-looking equipment.

I did, he answered simply. I’m a very rich man, Leah. I’ve got old money, and I’m an only son.

She walked around a bit more and finally turned to him. You never told me you were rich.

Have you ever looked attentively to the ring I gave you? He asked with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

Leah lifted her left hand to look at the beautiful huge diamond. I thought it was a fake. Everything was so fast, how could you save money to buy something so expensive? she murmured.

No, it isn’t a fake, and I didn’t need to save for it. It’s a family heirloom.

Why did you bring me here, she asked even more astonished than before. I know nothing of science. I’m a simple woman from a simple family. It’s overwhelming.

He took her hands smiling. Jumping into feelings without checking where you would land, it’s just like you. I love you, and everything you say, makes me love you today more than I loved you yesterday. My money didn’t mean anything to you.

I didn’t know it existed, she chuckled. I could hardly care about it.

You never googled me.

She shook her head. I only read about your work for the preservation of endangered species. It was enough.

Nobody knows about this facility, he smiled and explained. People around here are cool about it, though. They don’t pay much attention to the crazy American scientist.

Leah smiled at his words. Well, it’s in your land, so you are entitled to do whatever you want here.

Paul shook his head. Not exactly. This lab is a secret and it must be a secret forever.

Why is that so? Leah lifted an eyebrow.

Because the byproduct of my work might be dangerous. If it ends up in the wrong hands, it will break the nature balance.

Why are you telling me this?

First, you’re my wife. I don’t want secrets between us, and that’s what it was until now.

She grinned. The right words, Professor.

Second, he kissed her knuckles, smiling. I want to offer you my tough work of so many years.

She looked into his stormy gray eyes and repeated his words, dumbfounded. Offer me your work. What do you mean, Paul? You said it might be dangerous.

Let me explain things. He waved his hand encompassing the lab around them. This is the lab where I accomplished the most. Things that have never been published happened here.

She nodded slowly, urging him to continue with her head, and so he did. I’ve developed a special technique. With that, I can join different characteristics to a receptor.

I don’t understand your jargon, Paul.

I’m sorry, he nodded. It’s quite simple to understand. I can take the best of other species and paste to the human gene string, creating someone new, perfect, with special abilities.

She opened her mouth to speak but he interrupted her with a finger to her lips. Listen to me, Leah. I can make sci-fi become science without fiction. I can create a baby better than any cartoon superhero.

She remembered his words in the porch. A perfect kid.

Someone with no genetic disease, no hidden illness, having skills of many different animals too. I can put the pieces together."

Why are you telling me this?

I want to have children with you. I WILL have children with you, but you can decide to have special children or ordinary ones. It’s up to you.

Leah tilted her head and smiled. I’ll love to have your babies.

Yeah, he grinned. Having girls just like you, with your chocolate brown eyes, and your honey hair would make me the happiest man on earth.

I’d like to have boys just like you, Paul. Your black hair, your stormy eyes. Handsome and intelligent boys.

We can have them just like that. I can draw them, the way you prefer.

Isn’t it dangerous?

No, it isn’t, he shook his head. The babies will be just perfect.

She hugged him and rested her head on his chest. Okay.

He pulled her away from him and bent his knees to be level with her eyes. Are you sure of it?

I trust you with my life, Paul.

⧪⧪⧪

Unhappily, things didn’t go that smoothly. The special kids demanded a lot from their mother’s body. That was something Armadi had never taken into account.

As a result, Leah got very sick. Her perception of things was mighty affected, and she got a serious case of schizophrenia. She wanted to run away from her husband, afraid of him for imaginary reasons her damaged body had created.

Leah’s delusion was shaped by her bright mind, and because of that, she could convince one of the house’s servants to help her. Maria was a kind-hearted young woman who really saw Armadi as a monster, a killer, and agreed with helping her boss’s wife to escape.

Leah needed to take lots of medicine because of all the havoc the pregnancy was playing in her body. She wasn’t aware that, without the drugs, she would die, and so would the twin babies in her womb. The pills made her sleepy, and to avoid that, the young servant used a subterfuge.

Instead of supervising Leah to be sure she was taking the drugs, she would hide the pills in her bedroom. That way, nobody could know the scientist’s wife wasn’t following the prescription.

Armadi didn’t know how badly his wife’s mind had been affected. He understood it only when she jumped the bedroom