Page 20 of Beast Bear

Theo steppedinto the meeting room in the admin building, bracing for the tension he knew was waiting inside. Poppy Miller stood at the head of the long table. Morgan Delgado hovered by the wall, arms crossed, his scowl daring anyone to challenge him. Kai lingered near Poppy’s chair, wearing that polite, oh-so-helpful expression that made Theo’s skin crawl.

Poppy cleared her throat, lifting the folded letter. “The board has issued a new directive,” she began, voice taut. “They’re alarmed by these so-called accidents.”

That statement sent a ripple through the staff. Theo glanced around, noting furrowed brows and anxious murmurs. Poppy tapped the logs on the table, frustration edging her tone. “We’ve also got scheduling anomalies—logs showing staff completing tasks they swear they never touched. I’ve spoken with the board, and they want a structured investigation.”

Morgan raked a hand over his face. “If leadership had funded my budget requests,” he ground out, “we wouldn’t be stuck with cheap, outdated gear.”

Staffers exchanged uneasy glances. Theo stepped forward. “We almost had a drowning yesterday. Whether it’s old gear or something else, we need answers.”

Poppy inhaled and turned a page of logs, her pen drumming on the table. “Before we jump to conclusions, let me share the board’s second directive.” She held up the folder. “They’ve ordered that we form an Incident Response Team. This team will have full access to logs, sign-out histories, even potential camera feeds once we get them installed. We’re stepping up security measures effective immediately.”

Logan Carter spoke up from across the room. “Good. Because new trainees are panicking. If we don’t contain this, we won’t have any students in the fall session.”

Poppy continued reluctantly. “That being said, the board has suspended overnight modules until we conduct a full investigation. I know it’s drastic, but the board and our insurance reps are adamant. We have inspectors arriving this week. If we fail that check, we lose coverage and will have to cancel the charity climb.”

Multiple people grumbled. Poppy took a deep breath before continuing. “Starting today, no one touches any gear without two staff members signing off. That’s non-negotiable.” She eyed the staff. “If you see anything suspicious, you report it to me or the Incident Response Team.”

Morgan sneered, looking ready to snap. Kai placed a gentle hand on Poppy’s stack of documents. “I can help coordinate the Incident Response Team,” he offered. “The logs, sign-out sheets, official statements—all in one place.”

Poppy pressed her lips together. “We’ll talk about that later,” she said, then raised her voice to address the room. “We reconvene in forty-eight hours. I want a progress report from each department.” Poppy looked around the room, shoulders squared. “Meeting adjourned. Let’s figure this out before it destroys our academy.”

Chapter

Twenty-One

Theo walkedacross the gravel lot. He paused in front of the gear warehouse door to read a fresh sign that said all gear must be signed out by two staff members. At least the board was doing something. Inside, groups of instructors and trainees stood around, speaking in low voices about the new sign-out procedure.

A posted sheet referenced the Incident Response Team. Someone raised their voice. He looked up and found Morgan Delgado clutching a folder, his posture vibrating with anger. He spoke at a volume that bounced off the tall ceiling.

“If you think some flimsy sign-out sheet is going to end these problems, you’re deluding yourselves,” Morgan fumed, waving the folder. “The real issue is outdated gear. How many times do I have to say it?”

A cluster of staff stood around him. Some nodded, murmuring that maybe Morgan had a point. Others regarded him with open suspicion, recalling rumors that he might be creating problems to force the academy into funding his requests. Morgan rattledoff a list of items he believed should be replaced, jabbing the folder as if it were a weapon.

A staffer near Theo whispered, “He’s so dramatic. Maybe he wants us to think he’s innocent.”

Theo spotted Kai standing a few steps away from Morgan, wearing a calm expression. “Let’s double-check these logs, please,” Kai said, voice gentle. “Every piece of gear has to be signed out by two staffers now. The board is counting on us to follow the rules.”

Morgan slammed the side of the shelf with the palm of his hand. “Rules? You want to fix this place, you start with the budget. Stop patching old ropes and calling it safe.”

Theo headed to a row of shelves holding large coolers and sealed cartons of dried food. He needed them to prepare for the charity climb this weekend, and the new log procedure meant he had to sign them out properly.

His eyes caught a sudden movement near the back: Kai had crouched behind a tall stack of coiled lines. Theo frowned. The man appeared to be fiddling with something on the lower shelf. Before Theo could move closer, Kai rose quickly, a load-bearing anchor kit in his hand. Kai slipped the metal case into his rucksack, glancing around to ensure no one else noticed.

Theo froze, unsure whether to call Kai out then and there. Kai was heading the Incident Response Team and acting as Poppy’s right hand man. While Theo was on thin ice from the shifting incident.

Morgan’s rant grew louder. “You want to accuse me?” he sneered, voice trembling. “Fine. Then give me the budget toreplace the trash we keep calling equipment. Maybe then you won’t have trainees nearly dying in canoes.”

Kai was now straightening a row of harnesses, as though he had done nothing out of the ordinary. Theo clenched his jaw and turned back to the cooler, wrestling it down onto a dolly. He then grabbed a carton of vacuum-packed rations. He heard a staffer at a small desk call out, “Theo, did you sign that out under the new system?”

Theo forced a smile. “Yeah, of course. Let me just…” He scribbled his name on the clipboard on the desk. He then handed it to the staffer for a second signature.

“Just remember I warned you when the next accident happens,” Morgan sniped before leaving the room.

Theo exhaled, feeling frustration well up inside him. Before Theo could decide on a plan, Kai moved toward the back of the warehouse with the rucksack, slipping out of sight.

Theo thought about shouting after him, but maybe Kai had logged out the anchor kit. He adjusted his grip on the dolly handle and maneuvered the cooler out of the warehouse. The new sign-out rule was supposed to fix things at the academy, but the entire place felt ready to implode.

Chapter

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