"Oh, no, no, no!"Johnny interrupted, throwing up a hand."Hold up there, Daniel.I need to greet my lady properly!"
Johnny's face lit up as he turned to Marta."Hello, my sweet girl!Why haven't I seen you in...."He scratched his head theatrically, pulled out an imaginary notepad, and started scribbling in the air."Well, according to my calculations, it's been too long!"
Marta laughed and hugged him."Sorry, Johnny.Cam's been keeping us busy with the new researcher.Besides, your food is too good.I have to deprive myself just so I can savour it when I do come in!"
Johnny threw his head back and laughed."You've got me there, sweetheart!"
Daniel caught himself smiling at her and glanced away.Why was he noticing her grin in a way that made his chest tighten?
"Alright, alright," Daniel interjected."You've had your moment, Johnny.Now we've got to pester you about something else."
"Anything for you two.What's up?"Johnny asked, his tone shifting when he noticed their serious expressions.
"We're trying to figure out a bit of a puzzle," Daniel said."A woman showed up at the Lagoon today.Tall, blonde.Do you remember seeing her?"
Johnny nodded, his smile fading."Oh, I remember her all right.She was a looker, but something was...off.Kept glancing around like she was searching for someone.I asked if I could help, but she brushed me off.That never happens!"He shook his head."Next thing I know; she's asking about Dustin.I pointed him out, and a few minutes later, they walked out together.Dustin came back a few hours later, looked at me, shook his head, and walked out again.I was planning to ask him about it at Fish Fry tonight.He's not in trouble, is he?"
Daniel exchanged a glance with Marta.They both knew Dustin had a history with the Lagoon.Missed days and half-done tasks had led to his dismissal.But this didn't seem like him.
"No," Marta said thoughtfully."He's not in trouble.We're trying to figure out when she arrived on the island and how she convinced him to take her to the Lagoon."
Johnny frowned."Dustin wouldn't take a stranger to the Lagoon.He respects those dolphins.She must've said something to convince him."
"That woman told Dustin she was part of the research team," came a voice from the end of the bar.
Daniel turned."Gerald?You heard their conversation?"
"Sure did," Gerald said, tipping his beer."She came in looking for someone, just like Johnny said.Told Dustin, Malcolm sent her and said Dustin could drive her to the Lagoon.Claimed to work with that researcher."
"That explains a lot," Marta said, piecing it together.
Daniel nodded."Thanks for filling in the gaps, Gerald."
"You can thank me by buying me this beer!"Gerald shot back, drawing laughter that eased the tension.
Daniel grinned."You got it.Johnny, put that on my tab!"
"Man, you don't have a tab!"Johnny retorted, shaking his head.
"I know!"Daniel said with a wink, ushering Marta out as Gerald waved them off.
Chapter 59
Missed connection
Whentheyreturnedtothe lagoon, Gray and Cam noticed everything had been closed up.There was no one in sight, and all the closing duties were done.
"Everybody left already?"Gray asked, looking at Cam quizzically.
"Looks like it!"Cam glanced at his watch and frowned."Holy!I didn't think we were gone that long."
"Yeah, the Thatchers really like to talk your ears off!"Gray mused.
Not that he minded spending time with them; they were fascinating people.Their family was one of the oldest on the island.But Lady Thatcher had a tendency to talk, and talk, and talk!They needed only to confirm whether they had set up their satellite phone.Instead, they found out they had a landline installed too, an unusual luxury on the island.But for people like the Thatchers, who had more money than anyone else, it made sense they would make it happen.
"I can't believe they convinced the government to run a line out there for a landline!"
Unfortunately, when they called the lab back in California, no one answered.Gray explained it wasn't unusual for the time of day, and they decided to try again tomorrow.They had a phone at the dive booth, so they'd go there first thing in the morning.
