Chapter Four

Iwas off the proverbial fishhook, for now. Dennis and Marcus were sitting on the bench across the hall, the latter warily eyeing the man who waved him in after me. We exchanged a brief nod before the door shut, and Dennis and I were alone. My worst nightmare.

He gave me a wry smile, patting the empty seat beside him. Well, it's not like I'd expected the day to get much better.

I sat, leaning my body so far back my spine dug into the armrest. Dennis wasn't heavily muscled, but he took up a lot of room when he sat with his legs spread like he owned the place.

He sighed. Long, loud and obnoxious. "Crazy day, huh?"

I nodded. My throat was dry again, but I'd left the paper cup in the office. He looked at me, his expression pained. "I told them what happened. With us, I mean."

I nodded again. "Couldn't be avoided." My voice was scratchy, like I was fighting off a round of seasonal allergies. I rubbed the area around my vocal chords, trying to soothe the ache. It would be just like me to get sick on top of everything else.

"I know we said we'd hold off, but it is Monday now, and—"

I stood abruptly. "I need a drink." I hurried off to the water fountain down the hall, but it was blissfully out of order. I charged up the stairs, finding a second fountain by the ‘Open Ocean' exhibit. I bent my head and practically inhaled, the water cool with a metallic tang.

I wasn't avoiding Dennis, per se. Alright, maybe I was, but it wasn't because I was scared of him. Far from it, I'd gotten even and framed him for a serious crime for good measure. Now I was scared that every wrong move I made would somehow lead the others back to Kai.

I could blame it on the alcohol, would blame it on the alcohol, and with the work-study ending, I wouldn't have to see him until graduation. And then… never again.

He'd been part of my life for so long. There had been a period where we didn't go a day without talking, exchanging simple messages, or endearing love notes that had long since been deleted. Even when we'd broken up, I knew we'd cross paths again, though it wasn't how I'd expected. The idea of putting that chapter behind me was strange. It meant finally embracing the future, a future that had so many variables. I knew Cee would be in it, so would Becca and Dad, but Kai?

How long would I have him before he left for good?

"Excuse me?" A child's voice said right before I felt a tiny hand tug on my shirt. "Are you finished yet?"

I pulled back from the spout, a few droplets catching on my chin. A little girl in pigtails and a checkered dress stood behind me, her head tilted in confusion and impatience pouting her cherub's mouth. She must have come in with the group, and by the looks of the harried teacher approaching from the end of the hall, she wandered off on her own.

"Uh yea," I said, stepping aside. "Sorry."

"If you're that thirsty, you should drink more water. Mommy said I should drink at least three glasses a day."

"And she's absolutely right." I said, smiling at the girl. She took my place at the fountain, and I walked off, wiping my chin with the back of my hand.

Hughes was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. He called me over with a warm grin. "Thought you'd changed your mind."

"Never, I love that dolphin."

"I'll be sad to see her go." He agreed. "But she's been here long enough. No creature should be in a cage, especially one as wild and graceful as her."

The way he said that made me pause. "Any creature?"

"Studying mermen was never in my job description, Miss Saunders." he said softly. "And I never intended to let things get as far as they did."

"So, you would've let him go?"

"I didn't release him if that's what you're wondering. But I would have fought Reinhardt harder on his decision."

"Why are you telling me this if you didn't release him?" I asked. I'd been planning to ask him much of this myself, but him offering this information so freely was suspicious.

"Because our field- no- the world, needs more people who will fight for what is right. I had little spine, and little say in this matter, and I will always regret it." Two kids pushed us apart, a little boy chasing the pigtailed girl with a stuffed octopus from the gift shop. Hughes just shook his head in amusement as their teacher corralled them back to the bus and the officer closed and locked the aquarium behind them. It was unnaturally quiet for a beat before Hughes whispered, "I hope he made it home okay, and plans to stay there."

"If you're ever looking for a career change, I know someone at Stanford who would be delighted to have you." Just the thought of Professor Juno with his easy-going attitude and nautical socks made me smile. Like-minded people indeed.

"I was at the marine station before this mess. I'm sure they've been bored to tears without me."

We met the others on the beach, Marcus and Dennis rolling a cart with large wheels down to the water. Daisy was inside, eagerly awaiting her first taste of freedom. Along with the help of several volunteers, we lifted the sides of the blanket beneath her, carefully moving into the water. I'd changed into shorts, but both them and my blouse were soaked by the time we got her deep enough that she could swim on her own.

We moved the blanket from under her and stood back, letting her get her bearings. She flopped around, testing the water under her tail, around her scarred dorsal fin. Then, emitting a high-pitched chitter, her eyes caught mine. For a moment so brief it must have been my imagination, I feel her gratitude. Thank you, she seemed to say, I hope we meet again soon.

Then she took off, cutting through the waves like a hot knife through butter. From the beach, onlookers clapped and cheered. I fought the tears that rose to the base of my throat. But they were happy tears, knowing she was finally back home.

"She wasted no time," Marcus laughed from beside me.

"I hope she makes it to the pod alright."

"Me too, especially since we didn't tag her."

I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Reinhardt said it wasn't necessary," he said, brows furrowed. "I thought he told you."

I looked to the shore where Reinhardt stood far up the beach, clapping with the other civilians.

"Excuse me," I told Marcus, sloshing towards the beach. My skin felt tingly as I left the water, reminding me again of how long it had been since I'd gone for a real swim. My skin hadn't tightened or dried up from salt water in years.

I met him on the shore, suspiciously eying his loafers and long pants. For someone who spent their life studying marine life and the sea, he didn't seem to like getting his feet wet.

"Well done, Miss Saunders." Reinhardt congratulated me as I approached. "That dolphin owes her life to your generosity."

"Hopefully not her death." I said, frowning. "Why wasn't she tagged before being released? We'll have no way of knowing if she made it to the new pod."

"Ah, I understand," he said. Reaching into his pocket, he tugged out a device about the size of the latest iPhone. It was gun-metal gray, the top of the screen embossed with a circular ‘O' with a wave bisecting the letter. It was the same symbol on his presentation at the gala, and on the paper I'd found in Dad's office. He held it out and I immediately recognized the topography lines of Monterey Bay and the gray slats of land, a miniature replica of the GIS programs I'd stared at for days plotting Kai's escape route. Ones that he never used. The device had our current location marked with a small pin icon, and in the lines that made up the water grid, I saw a red dot, blinking and moving rapidly.

"Is that Daisy?"

"You can see the pod too, just there." he said, pointing out a cluster of red dots a few miles out.

I squinted, trying to make out the exact number on the small screen, anywhere from fifteen to thirty. That…shouldn't be possible. It was likely for a few individuals in a pod to be previously tagged if they were rescued and released like Daisy, but not all of them.

"How?"

"Amazing, isn't it? One organism sample is all it requires to track an entire species." He flipped a button, and the red dots disappeared, blue ones appearing instead.

I read the species name. "Leopard sharks?"

"Exactly. With DNA from the very shark in the kelp forest exhibit. One sample and I can track her whole species, within a certain mile radius." The device started beeping, the dots blinking in and out erratically. Reinhardt shook his head, tapping the side of the device with his fist. "Still has a few bugs. New developments on old technology and all that."

Something about the device was familiar, and my subconscious teased the edges of my memory, trying to connect wires that were missing a soldering tool. Maybe I'd seen blueprints for something similar on his cluttered desk on one of the many days I cleaned up after them. "Can it find 275?" It must have been his backup plan, how he planned to find more merfolk. If all he needed was a strand of Kai's hair, or one of his scales…

Reinhardt frowned. "Any viable DNA we had was destroyed with the lab, human or otherwise. Such a shame, too. How the world could have benefited from that discovery…"

Any panic that had bubbled up slowly spun down the mental drain from his words. "Perhaps the world wasn't ready." I replied hoarsely.

"The sea is full of mysteries, Miss Saunders. One day they will be revealed. I want to thank you for all you have contributed to this project."

"I didn't do much." Except ruin everything you started, I added to myself.

"You've done much more than you think. Please give my best to David. It's been far too long since our last encounter."

I had no intention of doing any such thing, "I'm sure he'll appreciate that."

He stared at me for a long moment, his watery eyes intense, "Good luck."

I shivered as he wandered off. If I never saw him again, it would be too soon. I noticed Hughes watching him go as well, a pensive frown on his face. I walked over to him. "You don't have another one of those fancy trackers do you?"

He shook his head, "First time I've seen something like it."

"I don't like Daisy being the guinea pig." I admitted.

"She'll be fine," he assured me. "The pod she's traveling with has a few dolphins previously rescued by the marine center. They'll show her what to do."

"You'll keep me updated on her progress?"

He extended a hand, and I gave him my phone, letting him program his number in. "If you're ever looking for a really exciting job, like counting fish populations, let me know."

I smiled. "Thank you." It was nice to know at least some of the connections I'd made here wouldn't go to waste.

I heard my name being called from the surf. Dennis was striding towards me, saltwater soaking his pants and the bottom half of his shirt. One more loose end that refused to be tied.

"Looks like we got a bit side-tracked," he said, hands on his hips, "I was wondering if you'd want to get lunch?"

I could see the nerves hiding behind the casual swagger clear as a billboard. One tumble in the sheets and he thought the slate between us had been wiped with a Mr. Clean magic eraser.

"No Dennis, I don't." I said firmly.

He frowned, his posture deflating. "Why not?"

"Because I never want to see you again." There, I slapped the truth in his face before I could allow even a smidge of empathy to slip through. I turned on my heel, trekking back to the aquarium to change out of my wet clothes.

As I changed, unease filled me about that tracker. The possibilities for it were endless, but in the hands of a madman like Reinhardt, it was extremely dangerous. I was positive they didn't have anything on Kai- he'd been a particularly difficult subject long before I arrived- but that didn't mean they weren't without any data. I'd asked Hughes about the files on Kai, but he said any data pertaining to 275 had been sealed. I supposed I could just ask the merman myself, though getting him to give me a straight answer would be…difficult. But I saved his ass and put him up in a mansion for good measure, so he owed me.

Leaving the lab behind for good, I headed for the main doors, trying to tame the wet ends of my hair.

"Maree," Dennis said, scaring the ever-loving shit out of me. In his defense, he was standing directly in front of me, and I'd been so lost in thought I'd almost run into him.

"What?" I snapped, tying off the messy braid I'd woven.

"I'm trying to understand what's up with you. I thought we were good."

I shook my head. "No Dennis, we are not good. But you're the only one who's still living in denial."

His face tightened, turning his skin bright red. "Really? So you call Friday night living in denial?"

"No, I call it a grievous lapse in judgment."

His jaw tightened, "I really thought you'd moved past this. It's just childish at this point."

"Excuse me?" It was a good thing I no longer had the keys to the supply closet, otherwise I would have thrown him into the bucket headfirst and locked him inside.

He started pacing, his hands moving animatedly as he spoke. "I didn't have a choice, I told you this! You said you understood!"

I'd said no such thing. I clenched my teeth. "There's always a choice, Dennis. And yes, you sound like a child trying to convince me otherwise." My voice had grown in volume, but the aquarium was empty, and I frankly no longer gave a shit if the whole of Monterey Bay heard me. "And if you think one drunken roll in the sheets would earn my forgiveness, that for one minute I would choose you over…" I trailed off, eyes widening as the words died in my throat.

What I'd been about to say…

His eyes narrowed. "Over who?"

I swore my soul felt him even before I heard the sweet cognac of his voice.

"There you are, little star. I've been looking everywhere for you."

His hand rested on the crook of my neck and shoulder, a gentle warming presence. He was dressed in a design from Cee's collection, sand-colored cargo shorts and a navy-blue shirt. Dennis' eyes zeroed in on the gesture and narrowed, and I prayed to every God I could think of that Kai's glamour was holding. What in the world is he doing here?

My thoughts raced, even as that warm hand slid down my arm and took my hand, threading our fingers together in an obvious show of intimacy. A veritable marking of territory if I'd ever seen one, and I nearly rolled my eyes. He may as well have peed a circle around me.

"Who the hell are you?" Dennis sneered.

"She's mine," Kai didn't even bother to look at him as he rubbed soothing circles into my palm. Actually, it was so matter of fact I had to do a double take. His soft smile was as casual as his words. "Is this weak bait giving you trouble?"

"Excuse me?!" Dennis' eyes were so bright with rage I was certain they were about to catch fire and melt out of his head. Cee would be sad she missed it.

I couldn't make sense of Kai's answer either, couldn't make much sense of anything with his electric touch sending heated sparks across my nerve endings. At least his glamor was holding, "Forget it, Dennis. This is Kai, he's Cee's cousin, he"s just visiting."

"Visiting what, exactly, your bed? Did you really need dick that badly you'd spread your legs for anyone with blonde hair and a pulse—?"

I stepped forward and slapped him hard enough to cut off the rest of his vitriol, if only to keep Kai from killing him. There was a thunderous rumble of power beneath his easy grin, a predator ready to pounce. I was sorely tempted to let him, but the last thing we needed was a murder investigation. Besides, I could put Assford in his place all on my own. "Who I associate with is none of your damned business, nor will it ever be again."

I spun on my heel and pulled on Kai's hand, tugging him down the hall.

"You're going to regret this, Maree!" he shouted after us. "You're making a huge mistake."

"No, Dennis." I called back. "I'm walking away from one."

We ended up outside of the kelp forest, just far enough that I could catch my breath.

"That was brilliant, little star. His obsession does concern me, though. It's like he's hunting you."

Dennis' moods had always been a little chaotic, but his switch from extreme aloofness to this manic enthusiasm was unnerving to say the least. I was a pretty good lay, but that didn't warrant this kind of behavior.

"I can handle Dennis. You, however, are fraying my last nerves." All with that damned touch of yours. I spun on him, poking a finger into his chest. "What are you doing here?!"

"Testing a theory," he answered with a broad grin, completely unfazed.

"Of what? The stupidity of mermen? The theory is accurate!" I paced the length of the exhibit, prowling like the leopard shark in the tank beside me, "You do realize you could be handing yourself to Reinhardt on a silver platter just by being here?"

"I see no silver dishes," he deadpanned. "Nor did I see anyone staring, least of all your previous bed partner."

"I didn't ask for your opinion or your judgment. I said I'll handle Dennis if I have to, it's you I'm concerned about."

"That's very touching." he said with a hand over his heart.

"Oh, shut it." I rubbed at my arms, the areas still coated in salt water were beginning to itch. His brows furrowed, and he looked ready to respond, maybe even apologize, but I asked, "How did you even get here?"

"I brought him, of course." The familiar voice of my best friend called from down the hall, garment bags in each hand fluttering behind her.