"So whoever used them either works in law enforcement or has military experience," June said, looking up from the file she'd been reading.
"Or has connections to someone who does," Holt added. "These aren't the kind of items you can purchase at a sporting goods store or order online without proper credentials and background checks."
"There aren't that many current or former police officers and military veterans living in Sandpiper Shores," June pointed out thoughtfully. "It should be possible to create a list of people with potential access to this kind of equipment."
"I've already started compiling that information," Holt confirmed, taking a bite of the excellent meal Margo had sent. "The list is shorter than you might expect, which could work in our favor if we can cross-reference it with other evidence."
Their conversation was interrupted by June's phone ringing. She glanced at the screen and immediately answered.
"Sorry, it's Lacey," she told Holt as she accepted the call. "Hello, Lacey, is everything all right?"
Holt couldn't hear Lacey's side of the conversation, but he could see June's expression shifting from casual concern to focused attention as she listened to whatever was being explained.
"A manatee rescue?" June repeated, obviously surprised by the request. "How many animals are we talking about, and how serious are their injuries?" She paused to listen, then looked up at Holt. "Lacey wants to know if you'd be willing to come help her and Dean with an emergency manatee rescue operation."
"Oh," Holt said, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected request. "I have to admit, I've never participated in a manatee rescue before."
"Is that a yes or a no?" June asked, covering the phone's mouthpiece.
"Sure, I'm willing to help," Holt decided quickly. "When and where do they need us?"
"Right now," June replied, then spoke back into the phone. "What kind of equipment or supplies should we bring?" She listened for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, we're on our way."
"Do we need to bring anything specific?" Holt asked as June ended the call.
"She said just to get to the clinic as quickly as possible," June reported. "They're organizing the rescue operation from there and will have whatever equipment they need."
They quickly gathered their things and headed out to Carmen's car, with Holt taking the driver's seat for the short trip across town to the new veterinary clinic. As they pulled into the parking area, Holt noticed that Harvey was just arriving in his pickup truck.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Peltz," Harvey called out as he approached Lacey, who was waiting near the clinic entrance with Dean. "This old pickup is all I could find on such short notice."
"Thank you, Harvey," Lacey replied graciously. "We'll make it work. We just need to create a safe transport area in the truck bed in case we have to bring any of the manatees back here for treatment."
She turned to address Harvey and several of the construction workers who had been helping with the clinic renovation. "We need to line the truck bed with something soft and waterproof, and we'll need a way to keep the animals wet during transport. Can you help us improvise something that will work?"
"What about those tarps we've been using to cover the building materials?" one of the workers suggested. "We could line the truck bed with those and use some of the foam padding from the equipment crates."
"That's perfect," Lacey said. "And we'll need containers for water and maybe some kind of pump system to keep the animals' skin moist."
"Will we need anything else back there, Dr. Peltz?" another worker asked.
"If you can find some rope or straps to secure everything safely, that would be helpful," Lacey replied. "And maybe a cooler with ice to help regulate the water temperature."
Once they had everything they needed and the back of the pickup was kitted out, Holt took the wheel with June beside him, Dean and Lacey in the back. They took off toward the lake. They pulled up where Lacey instructed them to, as she and Dean jumped off the back. She asked Holt to spin the truck aroundand reverse it so it was ready in case they needed to load a manatee on it.
Holt did as he was instructed. Once he was parked, he and June climbed out. As they walked around the truck, Holt froze as he looked to where Dean had started walking.
Holt found his attention drawn to the people standing near the water's edge, where the injured manatees were located. A sleek speedboat was moored nearby, and he could make out several figures beside it.
"Is that who reported the injured manatees?" he asked Lacey, who was grabbing her kit off the back of the truck.
"Yes," Lacey confirmed as she glanced to where Holt was pointing. "They called it in right before I called June."
Holt's eyes moved to June, who was helping organize supplies and hadn't yet gotten a clear look at the people waiting by the water.
"June," he said quietly, walking up beside her.
"What is it?" June asked, looking up from the equipment she was checking.
