We never go crazy, Matt told her calmly.
She smiled, because she believed that. Shed seen Matt Bosworth under pressure. He was a good man to have around at a critical moment.
I know that, Lara assured him. Ill keep you up with whats going on, she said. But really, Im good. Besides, Im sure Grady Miller, who founded this place, will wind up talking to Adam Harrison, because theyre friends. Anyway, the locals have it covered. And now Id better go. Your fellow suits are on their way up. Tell Meg Ill talk to her soon. And thank you both for listening.
She hung up quickly and stood, waiting, as she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Rick had been joined by Grady and the two FBI agents.
Lara, Grady said the minute he walked in, Im so sorry this happened to you.
Grady Miller was the perfect grandfather. He had thick silver hair and a lined face, but he was very fit for his seventy years. He could still swim like a dolphin himself and was often in the water with the trainers, entertaining visitors with antics only he could manage with the creatures that behaved like beloved puppy dogs around him.
Im fine, really, but thank you for being so concerned.
Lara, Rick said, these are Agents McCullough and Cody.
She wondered which man was which.
One was quick to smile and very good-looking. He reminded her of Mandy Patinkin in The Princess Bride, though with shorter, but still curly, hair. The other had even darker hair and equally dark eyes, and he didnt smile. He had a ruggedly sculpted face and looked as if he should have been commanding a Roman legion.
Hello, she said, accepting a powerful handshake from each man.
They want to know exactly what happened today, Rick said.
She glanced at Rick, frowning. He had been there, too. You didnt tell them?
Wed like to hear about it from both of you, the friendlier man said. Im McCullough, by the way. Diego McCullough. Strange name, I know, but this is Miami. Lots of mixes, you know?
Looks like a great mix to me, Lara assured him.
The other man didnt speak. He watched herwaiting. He seemed grimor maybe even suspicious of her. He had a face with features so perfect and classicand sternthey belonged on a marble bust.
She glanced at Rick, who shrugged, and then she said, Rick was teaching me some of his training techniques. Part of training is play. Cocoa was fetching different-size boxes for me, and then she came up with the finger. She had it on the tip of her nose and nudged it toward me, so I picked it up. I didnt know what it was at first. I think Rick and I realized at the same time. We both screamed, and without thinking I tossed the finger back into the water, then sent Cocoa to fetch it again, and we got out of the water and dialed 911. The police came, and as you can see, they already have divers in the water searching for more...more body parts.
Youre sure its the same finger you had the first time? the second man, the one named Cody, asked. He still hadnt cracked a smile.
The question surprised her.
Uh...no, actually, she said. I didnt inspect either of them. I just assumed she picked up the same finger the second time.
Agent Cody turned to Grady. Sir, I know you already have some of Miami-Dades finest in the water, but my partner and I would like to get in there, as well. One of our agents is on the way as we speak with dive equipment for us.
Of course, Grady assured them. We closed the facility immediately. Were at the disposal of law enforcement, so just ask for whatever you need. One of our trainersAdrianna, Ricks wifeis out there now, keeping the dolphins occupied so the police can work.
Agent Cody headed for the door and then paused, as if remembering some form of social grace was necessary to get what he needed from people.
Thank you, he said, nodding briefly to Lara and then to Rick. He was so brusque that she was surprised to feel a little tremor when he spoke. But of course it was impossible not to notice the waves of unconscious sexuality pouring off the man.
Of course, Rick said.
Lara didnt have to speakCody was already gone.
* * *
The Florida Keys offered fabulous diving with excellent visibility. But here, the dolphins were in a lagoon. Much of the area off the docks was fairly deepa good forty or fifty feetand there were the same sea grasses and silt normally found around docks. The water was kept free of refuse, but the nature of the habitat kept it from being as clear as the local reef.
Brett wasnt sure himself just why he felt so determined to find more of the person to whom the finger had once been attached. He knew he was frustrated and angry about Marias murder, and at least this was something active that he could do. He also knew they might not find anything; he might be on a wild goose chase.
He spent a good thirty minutes underwater with Diego. He used his underwater light as he swam by the foundations of the docks and every platform in every enclosure. The problem was, he might be looking for small body parts. Not easy. There were too many places that something that size might have ended up wedged.
The local cops, working in three teams of two, had worked even longer than he and Diego had.
Between them all, theyd found nothing. And hed just about gone through his tank of air.
It made sense to come upand give up. It was more than possible that the owner of the finger was still alive and well, except for a missing finger. More people than just the Barillo family plied the criminal trades in the area. Florida had almost one thousand two hundred miles of coastline, making it ideal for modern-day criminals, drug runners and smugglers, just as it had been a haven for pirates and blockade-runners in the past. For those bent on illegal enterprise, Florida offered nooks and crannies in abundance.
Brett loved his state; hed always wanted to work just where he was working. He considered himself well qualified, since hed been born in Gainesvilleas had his parents. His dads parents had been born in St. Augustine and his mothers in Jacksonville. All his life, hed heard their fascinating tales about the past; to him, the state was unique and incredibly specialthough of course it faced plenty of challenges, too. Hed attended the University of Miami and worked in the Keys on weekends, and during summers hed been hired on the charter boats that were so prevalent around the state. He knew the mentality of the Deep South stretch of the panhandle, the theme-park wonderland of the center of the state and the varied mixCaribbean, South and Central-American, now with a growing Eastern European componentof the southern half of the state and the Keys. Hed made a point of learning Spanish and Portuguese and the Haitian patois that was spoken in some areas of Miami. Few people, he thought, knew the state and its inhabitants better, with all the quirks and oddities to be found in such a diverse population.
And hed learned to care about people the rest of the world judged simplistically, people like the Gomezes. While Miguel hadnt shared the bone-deep goodness and tenderness of his wife, at his core hed been a decent man caught between a rock and a hard place. Hed tried to make things right; hed come to Brett and offered his help.
Brett surfaced and saw that the Miami-Dade teams were already up, and so was Diego, who had slipped out of his buoyancy control vest and was sitting on the dock speaking with Adrianna Laramie. She made a good match for Rick; they were both attractive in a real-world way and bronzed from their years in the sun. Shed been fully cooperative, talking to the dolphins and getting them to retrieve all kinds of anomalous objects. They had brought up bits of coral, a deflated beach ball, a pair of sunglasses and a watch. But no more body parts.
Brett surfaced and saw that the Miami-Dade teams were already up, and so was Diego, who had slipped out of his buoyancy control vest and was sitting on the dock speaking with Adrianna Laramie. She made a good match for Rick; they were both attractive in a real-world way and bronzed from their years in the sun. Shed been fully cooperative, talking to the dolphins and getting them to retrieve all kinds of anomalous objects. They had brought up bits of coral, a deflated beach ball, a pair of sunglasses and a watch. But no more body parts.
Think were done here? Diego called to him.
Brett was just about to agree when he saw the CEO of the place, Grady Miller, hurrying along the dock with a cell phone.
Its your supervisor. He wants to speak with you, Grady told them.
Diego took the phone and listened gravely, then turned to Brett. Youre going to want a new tank, he said.
Why? Brett asked.
Theyve got an ID on our body part. And youre not going to believe it.
Miguel Gomez? Brett asked incredulously.
Yup. Miguel didnt burn up in that fire. Whether he did or didnt kill his wife, he really could have been in his own neighborhood, and now he, or at least part of him, was here.
* * *
Lara spent the afternoon working on a series of press releases in tandem with a public information officer from the Miami-Dade police. Shed been going back and forth with the young officer on email for what seemed like forever when Rick suddenly appeared at her door.
They want you, he told her.
She carefully hit the send button before looking at Rick curiously.
They want me? Sorry, who are they, and what do they want me for?
They want you in the water.
Im not a trainer, she said. And they as in the cops?
They as in the FBI guys, Rick said. More particularly, dark and brooding FBI guy.
Lara thought about asking him which dark and brooding guy, except that she knew. It had to be Agent Cody.
Why do they want me? I dont know what Im doing unless Im with you or one of the other trainers.
Rick made a face. Well, you can thank Grady for this one. He says that Cocoa feels youre her special friend. They think that if youre in the water, shell get into the mood and help.
Lara stood up awkwardly. Shed changed out of her suit and into dry clothing for work, but if they wanted her in the water, she would be happy to change again and get back in.
Okay, give me five minutes. Ive got to put my suit back on.
Rick nodded. Ill wait and go down with you.
Thank you.
Lara started to put on her suit and water shirt, but they were still damp, so it was a struggle to get back into them. She realized she must have taken longer than she realized when she heard footsteps and Rick called to her from outside the bathroom door and told her to hurry up. One final tug and she joined him.
Cocoa did really take to you, he said as they started walking. Maybe youre just both good-looking girls of the same age. I mean, in dolphin years, shes in her mid-twenties, too, Rick said.
Maybe shes blonde at heart, huh? Lara asked.
Rick grinned and led the way back down to the water.
Agent Cody was still in the water, but his scuba equipment was on the dock, which meantshe assumed, since all she really saw was his bare chestthat he was wearing a pair of swim trunks and nothing else. He was muscled like steel, but shed expected no less. His partner was standing on the dock in swim shorts, as were the police divers. Grady was there, too.
Cocoa wasnt alone in the lagoon. Several of the girlsas the young females were calledwere there with her.
As soon as Lara arrived on the dock, she heard Cocoa let out one of her little chattering sounds in greeting. Lara flushed; she did seem to have a bond with the animal.
Im not sure how I can help, she told Grady. If the pros have come up empty and the girls havent found anything for you or Rick... She paused, aware that Diego was looking at her understandingly, while Cody was just staring at her with unreadable dark eyes.
I had a German shepherd once, great dog, Grady told her. He was nice to other people, but hed only play fetch with me. Only me, no one elsenot even if the best dog trainer in the world was around. Dolphins are very bright animals, and Cocoas attached herself to you. He pointed toward her where she was floating beside the dock, eyes intently focused on Lara. Hop on into the water, greet her, give her back a stroke, then ask her to fetch for you.
Lara sat on the dock and slid into the water. She felt the dark eyes of Agent Cody on her all the while. Once in the water, she talked to Cocoa. The dolphin swam by Lara, allowing her to stroke her long, sleek back. Then she raced out to the center of the lagoon and did a fantastic leap before coming straight back to Lara.
Do I need some fish? Lara asked, looking up at Grady.
He shrugged. Rick, standing on the dock, reached into one of the coolers and pulled out a fish.
Lara swam over to him, reached for the fish and turned. Cocoa was already there, her mouth open in anticipation. Lara tossed the fish to her.
Try now, Agent Cody told Lara.
She nodded, stroking the dolphin.
Cocoa, fetch, please, Lara said, treading water and giving the dolphin the hand signal.
Cocoa disappeared under the water. Everyone fell silent. Not even the police divers, who had broken off to chat, spoke.
Nor did any of the other stafftrainers, educators, even the café crewwho had crowded around to watch the proceedings. Lara noted that coworkers seemed to be clustering together. Dr. Nelson Amory, head of research, stood with Cathy Barkley, his assistant, and Myles Dawson, their U of Miami intern. Frank Pilaf and the café staff stood together, while the other trainers, Sue Crane and Justin Villiers, were watching from beneath the bountiful leaves of a sea grape tree.
Cocoa returned, bringing Lara a long stalk of sea grass.
Lara thanked her and stroked her back.
Tell her thats not it, Agent Cody said.
Lara ignored him; she wasnt about to tell the dolphin that shed failed or disappointed in any way.
Cocoa, thank you. And now, please, fetch again, will you? she asked.
Cocoa went down again. This time, she returned with a pair of sunglasses that had obviously been entangled in sea grass for a very long time.
These are great, she told Cocoa. Thank you.
Cocoa chattered and went back down. She was obviously enjoying the game.
Agent Cody was just staring at Lara, waiting. Uncomfortable under that probing gaze, she turned around to face Grady and Rick.
Im not sure what you thought I could do, she said by way of apology.
You never know, Grady said.
But then Lara felt a bump as Cocoa pushed her from behind. She heard a massive, collective gaspalmost as if all those gathered around the lagoon were actors creating a scene on cueas she turned around.
Cocoa had something for Lara. It was balanced precariously on her nose.
And Lara had to choke back a scream, had to steel herself to remain still...
This time it was a human foot.
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