If Eli was correct and James was stashing the recording somewhere here at his work, their best bet was to trace his steps as quickly and thoroughly as they could before he was alerted to their presence. Cooper pulled out his phone and showed her the picture of James he’d had Eli forward both him and Park this morning. “Ever see this guy around?”

Sophie squinted. “I think so. But you’ll have better luck talking to one of the other keepers. I can find someone for you to ask.” She led them down the trail.

“You’re the vet on set for some kind of video project, right?” Cooper asked as they walked.

Sophie laughed. “Not exactly. The zoo already has a great medical team here. But they’re hugely busy and my research back in the day specialized in the effects of stress on captive reptiles. Because the crew is primarily handling those, I was brought in to consult.” She shrugged. “Honestly, I was kind of surprised to be asked. But it’s been lots of fun.”

“What is it exactly that they’re filming?” Park asked.

“The zoo is partnering with a conservation organization to raise money: Wild Nature Conservation. The director of the org is some ex-TV star, so they’ve been filming a series of quick little shorts with her for the website as an educational campaign and kicking it all off with a big fundraising party tomorrow.” She grinned. “It’s a haunted Halloween gala, actually. There will be a couple keepers onsite with some of the more manageable animals. Tickets are eight fifty a pop. Dean and I are getting in free.”

“Eight fifty, as in eight hundred and fifty dollars per ticket?” Cooper choked.

“Well, I didn’t mean eight dollars and fifty cents. It’s a charity gala, not a lemonade stand,” Sophie said, amused. “And that’s just the single ticket prices without any of the perks. If you want your name listed as a friend of the zoo in the next newsletter, you’re dropping five grand or more for a table reservation.”

“A thousand dollars isn’t friendly enough?” Cooper murmured.

“You wanna come?” Sophie offered. “I can try to finagle you some tickets. We could wrap you in a feather boa and call it a joint bachelor party.”

“I would rather you wrap me in boa constrictor and call time of death,” Cooper said, “than attend a haunted Halloween gala, my god.”

Sophie turned to Park. “You know, it’s never too late to call off this engagement. You’re a catch, you’ll find someone.”

Park sighed. “I was cursed by an old witch to find him charming.”