Let's just say we weren't exactly quiet. Ariel had a lot of lung capacity. I’m sure the whole marina knew what we had been up to.
We chowed down on blueberry pancakes smothered in syrup and butter. The morning sun bathed the marina in a warm glow as we sat on the sky deck. It was calm and quiet. Most of the island was hungover and probably would be for the next several weeks.
The sheriff buzzed my phone. “He lives,” he said with surprise.
“Barely,” I said.
“You’re not going to like this.”
I groaned. “What is it now?”
“FWC wanted that shark DNA tested again.”
“That’s what JD said.”
“They sent it up to the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, but somehow the sample is missing.“
“Missing? How did that happen?”
“I don’t know. Never made it into evidence lock-up. I’m looking into it. As far as they’re concerned, this whole thing was a DNA misread. They think it was a great white.”
“What I saw yesterday was no great white.”
“Can you prove it?”
I frowned. “What about the tooth we pulled out of the first victim?”
“Their expert doesn’t agree with Jay’s assessment.”
I rolled my eyes.
“It’s not all bad. Gives us more time to sort this out before it gets taken away from us.”
“Let’s get a dive team out to that site and recover the shark cage,” I said. “That ought to lend credibility to the hybrid theory.”
I told him we’d be down at the station shortly.
We finished breakfast, bussed our plates, and made plans for the day.
“If it’s not too much trouble, can you run me back to my apartment to get a few things?” Ariel asked.
“Sure thing,” I replied.
“Are you okay to drive?” JD asked.
“I’m good.”
Jack gave me a skeptical look.
"I'm great. My head’s clear. No issues.”
He tossed me the keys.
Ariel and I left the boat and headed down the dock toward the parking lot.
"How long have you guys been friends?" she asked.
I smiled. "A long time.”
