Vintner looked Jim over again. He looked him in the eyes. He took another sip of his drink. "Well Jim, since I know you're a man who doesn't like to sugarcoat things, I may as well just tell you." Jim could feel his heart begin to race. He wanted to reach forward and shake Vintner to force the words more quickly out of him but he forced himself to stay calm. "I'm collecting animals," Vintner finally replied.
"I know," Jim said, getting frustrated with Vintner's lack of directness. "I saw you on the video in San Diego. I heard the animals when I was in the tunnels. I know what you're doing. I need to know why."
Vintner took a deep breath. "You saw the video in San Diego?" he asked Jim.
"Yes," Jim confirmed.
"And you heard animals in the subway tunnels?"
"Yes."
"What animals did you hear?" Vintner asked.
"I don't know. I can't be sure," Jim replied.
"What animals do you think you heard?"