Distant Echoes (22 page)

There were only a few people on the beach when Jesse parked, and they got out. By the time they’d changed in the bathhouse, the beachgoers had gathered in a circle to the right of the tombola, on a narrow strip of sand that ran out to Nukumoi Point.

“Looks like we’re just in time to see the monk seals,” Jesse said. He’d changed into blue shorts. His snorkel and mask hung around his neck, and he carried a pair of fins in his hand.

“I want to see!” Heidi ran forward, her red suit a bright splash of color against the golden beach.

Kaia followed her and watched a monk seal flounder up onto the beach. A lifeguard had already strung up a yellow rope to keep gawkers from getting too close to the seal. The endangered mammal was found only in Hawaiian waters, and the fine for disturbing one could run as high as twenty-five thousand dollars. They were interesting to watch from a distance though.

Her gaze wandered around the circle of people watching the seal’s antics. A flash of bright blue caught her eye, and she saw Jenny standing almost directly across from her. She had an animated smile on her face. She talked with her hands as she chattered to the man beside her.

Jenny’s companion turned and saw Kaia watching them. His gaze narrowed and darkened as he looked at her. Kaia knew he’d recognized her. Her heart pounding, she shrank back into the crowd. She didn’t know why the guy scared her so much. There was so much menace in his face. He couldn’t do anything to her here though, not with all these people around.

“Are you all right? You look a little pale.” Jesse studied her face.

“Jenny and the Hawaiian guy. They’re here.” She tried to find them again in the crowd, but she’d lost them.

“I don’t see them,” Jesse said.

“Me neither.” She turned and looked toward the parking lot. “There they are!” She pointed at the two of them getting into the black Durango.

Jesse started to go after them, but Kaia grabbed his arm. “They’ll be gone by the time you can get there.” The SUV spit gravel as it pulled away and disappeared among the condos around the beach.

K
aia couldn’t remember when she’d enjoyed a day more than she’d enjoyed yesterday with Jesse and Heidi. After a full night’s sleep, she was ready to take on the world. She glanced at her watch. She hadn’t had a chance to talk to Mano since she and Jesse had spoken to Lindy, and there would be no time today. She wanted to work with Nani for a few hours before heading to the base.

Curtis was puttering around the equipment shed when she arrived at Seaworthy Labs. Watching him, she tried to decide how to tackle the subject of the dolphins. Maybe Faye had talked to him already and he would be receptive to what she had to say. She squared her shoulders and stepped toward him.

He must have heard the sound of her slippers slapping the pavement, because he turned and shaded his eyes with his hand. “How’s the research coming?”

“It’s coming.”

He frowned. “I suspected you weren’t making progress. Kaia, I want to be straight with you. We’re not getting the grants I’d expected. When that article came out last week saying another lab was close to a breakthrough, we lost funding I was counting on. Face it: we’re about done with research here. I’m going to move ahead with the sea park.”

No other lab was doing
exactly
the work they were. “We’ll beat the other lab—all I need is a little more time. Besides, you just bought the lab. You’ve got to expect to lose a little money at first.”

“And I was prepared to do that in the beginning. But things are going downhill fast. I had to pay last week’s salaries out of my own pocket.”

She hadn’t realized the lab was in such dire straits. “Then why did you loan me out to the navy?”

He sighed. “I didn’t have much choice. When the navy asks, a patriotic citizen helps out.”

“The missile test will be over in a few days. I’m sure I can get that breakthrough in just a few more weeks of work.”

“We don’t have a few more weeks.” He nodded toward the lagoon. “I’ve arranged to begin construction next week. I’ll need to bring in the younger two dolphins and start their training right away. Maybe I can leave Nani in the research project for now.”

“I need all three dolphins,” she said. “They interact and follow one another’s lead in learning the clicks and whistles. It will set the project back if you take them from the pod. I raised Nani. She followed me here to learn, and the other two dolphins followed her. You have no legal right to do this. Besides, they are Pacific dolphins. They need deep water.”

“You’re saying you own Nani?”

Why was this so hard for him to understand? “Nani isn’t owned by anyone. And neither are the other two. They are free, wild dolphins.”

“And all I’d have to do would be to put a net fence over the lagoon to keep them here.”

Over her dead body. She curled her fingers into her palms and felt her nails bite into her flesh. The only way to save the dolphins was to prove they were capable of language. She needed time for the research, but Jesse needed her for several more days. The only way to do both was to get along on five or six hours of sleep a night.

“You look as though you’d like to punch something,” Curtis said. “Kaia, Seaworthy Labs won’t cease to be humane just because we’re dropping our research function. They’ll be happy in the sea park.”

“I’m going to get you the proof. You’re not capturing the dolphins.” The pressure was almost unbearable. Everyone was depending on her, and the thought of failing was unacceptable.

Curtis sighed and his stance relaxed. “It’s nothing personal, Kaia. I’m in business,
not just research.”

Kaia didn’t answer him. If she had to, she’d make sure the dolphins never came into the lagoon again. They wouldn’t survive being cooped up. “I’ve got work to do.” She left him standing by the shed door and walked to the water.

Nani greeted her with an excited chatter. Kaia kicked off her slippers, sat on the pier, and dropped her feet into the water. “What are you trying to tell me, Nani?” Tears blurred her vision. She’d been trying so hard and still no breakthrough. What would it take to bridge the gap between her and Nani? The missing link was there somewhere. She just had to find it.

She pulled her fins and snorkel from her backpack and slipped into the water, adjusting her equipment into place. Nani brushed against her, and Kaia grabbed the dolphin’s dorsal fin and swam through the clear water with her friend. A school of bright yellow tangs scattered as they approached, and Kaia paused and floated as she watched them.

If only she and Nani could really communicate. Nani bumped her with her nostrum, her signal she wanted affection from Kaia. Kaia could feel Nani’s love and devotion to her, and she was sure the dolphin could feel how Kaia loved her as well, but the sense of connection wasn’t enough.

Kaia floated in the buoyant water and watched Nani try to imitate her. Why was this so important to her anyway? Other people, even her own family, sometimes acted as if they thought she was a little obsessed. But until she could share
words
with Nani, there would always be a wall between them. She wondered if Nani ever felt the distance the way Kaia did. Maybe the dolphin sometimes tried to communicate with her like God tried to communicate with man. Each group had such a different frame of reference.

Jenny was standing on the pier when she surfaced. “How’s it going?”

Kaia pulled her mask and snorkel down around her neck and squinted through the glare of the sun. “Okay. Any successes this week?” Kaia watched Jenny carefully for any sign of guilt. The other woman’s smile never wavered.

Jenny shook her head. “They don’t work as well without you here. And Nani hasn’t been showing up as much with you gone either.”

“I saw you at the beach yesterday,” Kaia blurted out. “Who was the guy you were with?”

Jenny’s eyes flickered. “Just a friend of my brother’s. No one important.”

“I’ve seen him before. I just wondered what his last name was.” Kaia pressed a bit more, but Jenny turned and looked out to sea with a closed expression.

“Hey, have you gotten in any work while you’re on patrol?” Jenny asked.

She could tell Jenny wasn’t about to reveal anything to her. “Some. We’ve both been tired.” She told Jenny what Curtis said about the sea park.

“Yeah. He’s been pretty open about his plans. We may not be able to stop him,” Jenny said. She sat on the edge of the pier and dangled her feet over the edge. Liko swam nearer and rubbed against her feet.

“Well, I’ve got a plan of my own.” Kaia swam to the dock and grabbed hold of the pilaster to steady herself. “What if we teach the dolphins
not
to come in here anymore? We’ve got a couple of weeks before the construction on the new lagoon is done.”

“But won’t that slow our progress on the communication?”

“Maybe not. We have to try. Unless you have a better idea?” Kaia didn’t see that they had a choice. She would do anything in her power to save the dolphins.

Jenny shook her head.

“Let’s get started on it today.” Kaia nodded toward the car kicking up red dirt under its wheels as it left the parking lot. “Curtis is gone. He won’t see what we’re doing.”

Jenny got to her feet. “I’m game. Tell me what to do.”

That was what Kaia wanted to hear. She heaved herself out of the water and blew the whistle around her neck to call the dolphins.

J
esse jogged down the path through the park just off base. He was smiling as he remembered the day he’d spent with Kaia yesterday. Their conversation had been so free and easy, almost like two old friends. Or even a married couple. He cut that thought short. Best not go there. He glanced at his watch. Three o’clock. Almost time to get Heidi for a few hours before meeting Kaia for tonight’s patrol.

He wiped his forehead and turned to head back to base when he saw Duncan’s car stop by the curb. He walked over to talk to him. “I figured you’d be hard at work today.”

Duncan was smiling. “I was, but my daughter’s birthday is next week and I needed to pick up something for her and get it sent.”

“How long has it been since you’ve seen them?”

Duncan’s broad smile faltered. “Nearly six months,” he admitted. “I could kill Mary for taking them so far away.”

“I’m sorry. It must be hard.”

“You have no idea.” Sadness settled on his features. “I always thought marriage would be forever. So much for faithfulness.” His lips twisted. “Matthew was only too glad to step in for me.”

Jesse couldn’t imagine how it must have felt to be so utterly rejected by one’s wife. He reminded himself, however, that there were always at least two sides to a problem. Maybe Duncan had worked too many hours. After the college cheating fiasco, he’d changed—become driven. “Maybe she’ll let them come for a visit now that summer is here,” Jesse suggested.

“Not a chance. I already asked. Evan is in T-ball and Beth is in swim competition. I’ve lost them.”

Jesse pointed to a framed photo on the passenger seat. “Is that a picture of your dad?” Duncan’s dad had been a surrogate father to Jesse.

Duncan picked up the picture. “I’m actually taking it to the office. It seems appropriate with the new missile being tested.”

“I’d forgotten your dad came up with the original plans for the missile, didn’t he? You must be very proud. I hope you’re planning on watching the test from the base.”

“Wouldn’t miss it. The captain invited me to watch with him.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to run. Duty awaits.”

As Duncan drove away, Jesse wondered if his sister Jillian ever regretted breaking it off with Duncan. He might have treated her better than her AWOL husband, Noah.

He jogged to the street and entered the base. Perspiration trickled down his back from his run, and his tank top clung to him. Fingers of steam from the sun’s rays rose from the flowers growing along the path. He crested the hill and paused to catch his breath, bending over at the waist and drawing in oxygen.

A movement caught his eye, and he straightened to stare at his quarters. Other soldiers milled around his yard and more men streamed from his front door. What was going on? He swiped at the sweat beading his brow and jogged down the hill to find out.

Captain Lawton met him at the front door. “I’m sorry, Jesse, you can’t go in right now.”

“What’s wrong?” Jesse glanced from Lawton’s stern face to the window. Inside his quarters he could see security personnel going through the drawers in the kitchen.

Lawton put his hand on Jesse’s shoulder. “We’ve had a tip that you’re the one behind the break-ins on base, Jesse.” He removed his hand after a final squeeze.

His blood heating, Jesse stared at the captain. “That’s ludicrous!” He started past Lawton, who put out a warning hand. Jesse stopped and resisted an urge to bat down his arm. That would get him thrown into the brig.

“The accusations were serious enough to warrant an investigation. I’m sorry, Jesse.”

Was
that disappointment in the captain’s voice? Jesse examined Lawton’s expression. Surely the captain didn’t believe any of this. “I see,” he said slowly. “I thought you knew me well enough to trust me, Captain.”

“I’ve learned there is always more to a man than meets the eye.” Captain Lawton turned at a shout from inside the house. “Watch him,” he barked to an SP standing nearby.

Watch him?
Jesse was no criminal. He started to follow the captain.

“I’m sorry, Commander, but you heard the captain.” The SP put his hand on his gun.

Jesse unclenched his fists and shoved his hands in the pockets of his shorts. He was too angry to be worried about anything they might find. His supervisor’s suspicion cut like sharp coral.

He stared down the SP until the man dropped his gaze and shuffled. Jesse strained his ears to try to figure out what was going on inside his house. Who could have called in a prank like this? His mind raced through the list of friends who might have thought this would make a good joke. He rejected them all. All his sailor friends would know how seriously an accusation like this would be taken, and none of his civilian friends would even know how to go about calling the captain.