Chapter 6

Sexy, sensual, and romantic scenes—the stuff of dreams and stories—bloom in organically bounteous moments. Tonight was a time like that, where the moon slid behind a bank of thick clouds, drawing away all remnants of light and leaving the couple shrouded in darkness. The air was just cool enough for them to sit close together as even the shadows suited intimacy, cloaking them in privacy.

“What a great night,” said Kerry with a contented sigh.

“Uh-huh,” replied Leaper, whose home was just behind them. The ocean was before them, lapping languorously on the shore, and the rock and sand were just beneath them. The night with its dark mantle wrapped them in seductive seclusion.

Birds skirted the water mere feet away, scooping up their midnight catches. The last of the moonbeams had drawn those fish to the surface, and the absence of light disoriented them now, making them easy prey.

Nature was so primal. Want and need. Fulfillment and satisfaction.

Kerry snuggled closer to Leaper. “Thank you for an amazing day and a wonderful evening. I like Maura and Declan. It’d be great to spend more time with them.” Kerry sighed. “That meal was delicious too. I’m stuffed.”

“Glad you like them. Declan’s one helluva good cook.” Leaper wasn’t prepared to tell her that his swim buddy had given his agreement during kitchen duty—a thumbs-up in terms of Kerry being in his life, that is. Not that Leaper needed the confirmation, but hearing from his best friend reinforced what he already knew. Leaper hadn’t even realized he wanted to know what other people thought. Then again, Declan and Maura were special.

Leaper nuzzled her neck, and she leaned into his caress. He knew Kerry was one of a kind, and he wanted to spend more time with her. His friends’ validation just made him more sure.

Wind blew in soft gusts as the lapping of the ocean waves soothed him like a lullaby, yet nothing could cool his desire. In his arms was a rare beauty. A tiny honey blond with a lush and lovely body. Ah.

“Leaper, are you thinking up mischief?” Kerry asked as her fingers rubbed along his shoulders. Her voice was sensual and sweet, even when she was roaring with emotion, and he liked it.

“Maybe.” He grinned as he buried his nose in her hair and breathed in the scent of the salty ocean and Kerry’s sweet honey scent, as if she bathed in it. Oh, he definitely loved that idea. He was putting it on the top of his to-do list.

He felt her hands slide down his chest and toy with his bellybutton. He liked her boldness. Passion could draw a man the way a flower does a bee.

“Leaper,” she sighed as she stretched her body along the length of his.

He sat down on a rock—an outcropping that reached into the ocean—and softly kissed along the pulse of her neck until he reached her lips. Slowly, oh, so slowly, he kissed her with a teasing passion. The touch made her lean in for more. Nothing could make him rush this moment.

Holding her close made all of his senses sing; being with her made him feel alive. That observation shocked him. She affected him the way an Op with his SEAL brothers did, with one exception—he didn’t want to get naked with them. But her… She was a flesh-and-blood siren who lured him, sang to his soul, and made him want to drown in her body.

She had a gorgeous smile and an air of freedom, as if she lived the life she was always meant to, and everyone in her presence should do the same. It was irresistible.

“Kerry.” He murmured her name against her lips, a breathy caress.

Her tongue darted out, as if she couldn’t bear his leaving her lips. “Leaper,” she sighed as her hands dug into his back. “Please…don’t make me wait. I want you. Now.”

“Say my name again. I like the way you say it.”

“Leaper.” She drew the syllables out as if each one was a succulent, saucy caress.

He smiled against her lips, his grin wicked and hungry, and then slanted his head slightly and gave her exactly what she craved, kissing her with a passion he’d held in check for most of his life. The floodgates opened, and waves of sensuality poured over him as he gently lowered her onto his lap. She was a treasure, a fragile creature who must be worshipped with tenderness.

She shifted in his lap and straddled him boldly, and it was obvious she had other plans. Who was kidding—he adored it! He craved a woman who was his equal in bravery, pluck, and passion. Was Kerry the one? From all he’d learned about her, she was smart, courageous, and lived life with gusto. She was an incredible soul who wreaked havoc on his senses in a way no else ever had.

A wicked grin played on her lips. Her body vibrated with need as she moved deliberately over him. Her hands stroked his face.

For a moment, he almost lost control like a love-struck teenager. Then the self-discipline that made him a superb operator in combat kicked in, and he was in command of his body and emotions again. He stroked his fingers along her back, her hips, reaching in front and brushing his fingertips over her breasts.

“Yes,” she sighed as she pushed into his touch.

His hands cupped her breasts. He sighed. Her skin was so tender, so soft, like silk. “Luscious.”

“More.” She pulled her shirt over her head and pushed up his own shirt. “I don’t want anything between us.”

Leaper nodded. He set her on her feet.

“Keep your eyes on me.” She turned slowly around on a low, flat rock and then stood still as she disrobed.

He watched with an eager gaze as she stripped off her clothing. Her every movement made his blood boil until he was pulling his own clothes off in a rush, trying to alleviate the heat building inside him. He tossed the clothes behind him, heedless of where they landed.

Water splashed their feet as she crawled onto his lap. She put his hands on her hips and slowly lowered herself onto him.

His cock could feel each glorious pulse of her vagina as he moved farther into her achingly slowly. When her muscles gripped him hard with a climax, he had to struggle not to come immediately. God, she’s incredible!

His eyes locked with hers. When she began to move, he lost all capacity for speech. He had to gulp in air so he could hold his ground. With his pulse racing and his heart hammering, pleasure laced through every part of him until nothing else remained.

Moving together in a rhythm as ancient as time, they became a solitary being. They were living, breathing, shuddering, beating, reaching, arching, and making love as one unit.

In that moment, the moon revealed itself, leaving behind the thick clouds and bathing the couple in moonlight. Beams of light danced across Kerry’s hair and naked body as Leaper’s gaze took in the vision of her glorious form and the riveting place where their bodies were joined.

As his gaze shifted back to her face, he could see her eyes were alight with delight, those twin glints of enchanting mischief, and it pushed him over the edge. He struggled to speak. “I…”

“Me too,” she said, her voice strained. Her back arched as she cried out in pleasure.

His body had climbed as high as it could, and he came with a mighty roar as his body plunged with hers to completion.

Their bodies shook, spent.

They held each other, arms entwined.

His forehead touched hers, and they kissed intermittently. Neither wanted to let go, and they clung until they both began to shiver.

Leaper reluctantly lifted her up and placed her on her feet. He bent down and grabbed her clothes, wet from the water on the low, flat rock.

Grabbing his shirt, which had actually landed on a higher, dry rock, he held it so she could slip it over her head and put her arms inside. The hem hung to her knees. She looked adorable.

She laughed. “It smells like you.”

“Great. Sweat,” he said critically.

“No,” she said with an equally serious tone. “Like a warrior. A lover. Like a man who is mine.”

“Our scents smell good, mingled together.” Standing naked before her, he kissed her tenderly and said, “What is mine is yours. My body. My heart.”

Her breath caught. “Leaper…”

“Kerry.” His body was hard, needing her and aching for her. His lips found hers. Passion swept through his body.

She broke the kiss and took his hand. “Follow me.” In her free hand were her wet clothes, and it reminded him to grab his shorts. He pulled them on hastily.

They walked along the sand dune in front of his home to a small stone wall. His body was taut with need.

With the tide out, the beach stretched farther. It would be an hour or two before the tide came in and they would need to climb to safety. For now, the rocks gave them some privacy. Plenty of time for what he wanted to do…

He reached for her hand, so tiny, yet capable. It tucked into his large one, and he curled his fingers over hers, protecting her delicate digits. His instincts told him he was getting too close too fast. He didn’t care. Kerry was worth the risk, and besides, his name was Leaper. Sometimes you have to live the true meaning of your name.

* * *

The sound was as unique as a thumbprint.

She laughed seductively, her voice low and throaty, as she broke away from Leaper’s touch. “My turn. Lie down.”

Playing in the sand on the rocks was incredible. Being in nature took on a whole new meaning for him. He obeyed, lying with his butt toward the sky and his privates hidden in the sand. He looked over his shoulder and winked. “How’s this?” He laughed. He’d had enough sugar-cookie drills to make sure his shorts were over him before he pulled that “dick in the sand” move. No one wanted a sandpaper ride, not him and especially not her.

“Leaper!” She smacked his ass, sending a reverberation of pleasure through him. “You like it. I can see it on your face. Damn. What have I started?”

Slowly, he rolled over…so his cock was directly below her pleasure zone, and then he lifted himself to her. “I like a lot of things. Let’s explore that. But…ladies first.”

“Chivalry. Hmm, that’s nice. Manners are not lost on you, Mr. Lefton. You’re earning brownie points.”

“Points, huh? I have several ‘points’ I’d like to make. Like this.” His hands reached, caressing the tops of her thighs and her hips, fingertips brushing lightly. Then he cupped her breasts as his thumbs played over her nipples, making her breathing quicken and her body move. His cock was trapped beneath her movements, and it was an exquisite torture.

He moved his hands with long, gentle sweeps between her legs, teasing her. Then he cupped one of her favorite spots and stroked the smooth skin of her nether lips. She purred with delight.

Kerry pulled her T-shirt over her head and stared down at him, no longer the siren. Now she was like the radiant Celtic war queen Boudicca, about to quell her chattel.

And Leaper was ready to do her bidding. His eyes were locked on hers.

Parting that glorious entrance with his fingers, he touched the top of her clitoris. She lifted her hips upward, giving him better access. This was what he loved…her deep-rooted sexiness, this glorious self-comfort, and the confidence it gave her to open up and enjoy a beautifully hedonistic experience. This was the greatest aphrodisiac on the planet.

The two fingers of his free hand gradually slid into her, reaching into heaven one centimeter at a time. The inside of her body was supple and slick.

Her muscles moved, locking tight on him. They pulled, wanting more.

Slowly he pulsed his fingers in and out. He let her set the rhythm, feeling the exquisiteness of her juices as they wet his hand. With his other hand he could feel the pulse of her against his thumb. “Yes, sweetness. My Kerry. That’s it.”

He turned his fingers slowly, creating an erotic rhythm to take her higher. She responded immediately to the intensity.

“Oh God! Leaper!” Her thighs clutched the sides of his hips with incredible strength.

“Go, darling. Go. Enjoy the freedom.”

She tossed her head back, her hair flying in the wind like a sensuous queen’s, and she rode his fingers until she cried out in pleasure.

Still he did not stop. His hands played over her nether regions again and again until at last she cried out for a final time and wept with the power of her release.

As the tears fell on his chest, he withdrew. He lifted the discarded T-shirt, wrapped it around her, and opened his arms to warm her further.

She snuggled tighter, wrapping her body tightly against his. So sweet.

He held her close. His cock was thick, pulsing, and hard. He wanted her so much. He could have rolled her underneath him and made love to her for another hour or two.

Being inside of her was beyond description, indefinable on the pleasure scale. Yet, as her breathing settled into a rhythm and her body relaxed, this moment was full of such intense emotional bliss, he didn’t dare move. As a SEAL he was used to physically “toughing it out.” Holding her like this—well, he wanted to cement it into his brain so he could draw on it again. This would be a golden moment he’d drag out when he was waiting in the woods somewhere. In the movies and media, they never talk about those long, boring moments when you’re shitting in a bag and rationing your water until the call to move out comes through.

Kerry moved restlessly as she slept, pushing the T-shirt onto the sand. The final barrier was gone. They were heart to heart. Her bare breasts were on his naked chest. She purred sweetly, sounding content.

He willed his warmth to envelop her. He knew he was a furnace on most nights. He hoped it was enough to keep her comfortable until she woke naturally and he could take her inside and tuck her into his bed. Having her in his home made the place…better. Was it strange to enjoy the sight of her panties on his chair or her hair band on his countertop—and best of all, of her at his kitchen table and in his bed?

Her breathing came out in soft steady puffs, a darling purr.

Kerry, he thought as he wrapped his arms more tightly around her. I’ll hold you, dear lady, lost in pleasure—yours and mine. For you, I can wait forever.

* * *

Kerry smiled at him. “This is like…instant transport.”

“Really? Are you clicking your heels and arriving at your destination by the third beat?” asked Leaper as he avoided an eager paddleboarder who was inexperienced and veering dangerously toward the shipping lane. Waves radiated from the boat, forcing the paddleboarder to lie down on the board and head back toward shore.

“Close enough. Being taken to work by boat is pretty snazzy treatment,” said Kerry as the wind blew her hair in swirls around her. She could feel the eyes of her man watching her. “A lady could get used to this white-glove taxi service.” She shook her rear teasingly. “By the by, I can’t believe Glorietta Bay has so much morning traffic. San Diego definitely has a busy port.” She looked over her shoulder at him.

His eyes moved upward to meet hers. “Hey, sexy lady, do you think this trip is free? I’m planning to take my wages out in sexual favors.” Leaper’s grin was alight with pleasure.

She wanted to see what other parts of him could salute too. She knew she was being bad, but he brought out the vixen in her, and she loved it. Coming around to the back of the boat, she snuggled up beside him and teased her fingertips along the inside of his thighs.

“A little to left,” requested Leaper. “To quote Beyoncé, ‘To the left, to the left…’”

She smacked his back. “Leaper!”

“Oh yeah, that’s the spot. Do it again.” He wiggled his back against her without losing control of the boat. She could attest to the fact that the man had many, many skills in both the boating and bedroom department.

“You’re incorrigible,” she teased.

“The engine’s loud.” He pointed to his ears. “Encourage you, you say? Absolutely! I’m happy to. Just say when.”

She shook her head and stood as they neared the dock. “When.” She stuck her tongue out at him and jumped onto the dock. Her landing shook the boards with a slight vibration, but she didn’t fall on her butt. Success.

“Don’t tease me, or I’ll take that as an invitation to French kiss you in front of all your colleagues.” Leaper cut the engine.

She squeaked, “Don’t you dare.”

“As you wish. I won’t take it as a knock on my abilities or my manhood, rather that you’d prefer to pillage me in private.”

Kerry laughed. “I adore you.”

“Have a wonderful day, dear lady.” He bowed to her.

“And to you, handsome man.” She blew him a kiss.

As the engine fired up, she couldn’t resist looking back at him and waving. He returned the gesture, and a wave of butterflies fluttered around her heart.

Kerry took a deep breath. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so happy and relaxed. Having a sex life was doing wonders for her, especially in her off-hours. Considering she was a die-hard workaholic, this change of pace was unexpected and wonderful. She was even considering canceling her standard massage appointment. Why did having the right person in her life make her world seem bigger?

She hummed as she walked down the dock, adding a skip in her step now and then. As she walked up the gangplank and went through the security door heading toward the office, it took her a few seconds to realize she was humming Village People’s “In the Navy.”

She smiled. How appropriate!

She waved to the security guard posted near the double doors and let herself into the main office. Taking a hair band from around her wrist, she wound her hair into a bun and secured it in place. Time to switch into doctor mode.

There was a stack of mail for her in her postal slot. She sorted through it, looking for a particular packet of information. She’d sent a blood sample of Merry’s to a secondary laboratory for verification, and the results were bound to be here. Sure enough, she spotted an envelope from the lab.

Stuffing the rest of the mail back into her cubbyhole, she took the packet back down to the docks and sat next to Merry’s pen. She ripped open the envelope and read the numbers. Then read them again. Staring at them wasn’t changing the reality. There were several high and low values, and none of it matched their current lab results. This wasn’t just bad—it was a nightmare.

Her happiness washed away. This news frightened her, and at the same time, it completely frustrated her. How long had the lab been giving false results? Heads were going to roll for sure, but that wasn’t her main concern. It was the dolphins. They were the ones at risk and the creatures she promised to watch over.

Her eyes traveled down the length of the dock and marked all the dolphins housed there. She wondered if any of them were in danger.

Her stomach twisted. Dear Lord, please don’t let any of them have the virus the wild dolphins have. Please, please, please.

She tucked the results back into the envelope and secured it in her waistband. She needed to think, come up with some kind of plan. But first she had to calm down.

Lying on her belly on the dock, she stared into the water. Her reflection showed a miserable and distraught woman with eyes full of fear. She dangled fingers over the side of Merry’s pen and gently wiggled them in the water.

Merry arrived in record time. Her skin slid against Kerry’s fingertips. The dolphin rolled onto her side, giving Kerry her fin and waiting for loving strokes.

“You’re so precious, Merry.” Emotions clogged her throat. She choked out the words, “All of you are,” before her eyes flooded with tears that fell into the pen below her.

Merry nudged Kerry’s hand with her snout. She rubbed several times, and it was as if the peace of the marine mammal was being transmitted into Kerry’s very core. Worry was replaced by determination as if at the flip of a switch. “I understand. You’re right, Merry. Time for action.” She stroked the dolphin one last time, and then she steeled herself for the battle ahead.

Pulling out her kit, she took samples from Merry and worked her way down the line of dolphins, gathering skin, saliva, and blood. Kerry was going to use her skills to solve this problem.

* * *

Nobody likes fights or confrontations. People react to accusations with “fight or flight.” Not that any of the lab techs were interested in exerting even an ounce of energy. Their “hang loose” attitude made her want to stuff them onto ecofriendly scooters and toss them off the base, but that would probably be a reward, especially with a good surf report today.

“What happened to integrity in the workplace? Doesn’t anyone give a rat’s ass about doing a job well?” Kerry spoke the thoughts aloud, but she could have been screaming them from the top of the building for all anyone cared. The lab was empty. At first attack, the techs had scattered, and she was left with an empty room. Their supervisor was conveniently on vacation for two more weeks.

Putting the samples from the marine mammals into safe storage and locking the cooler, Kerry decided to do something that she hadn’t done since she was a child. She walked over to the recycling bin and kicked the shit out of it, screaming, “Fuck you!” at the top of her lungs and tossing the few papers onto the floor. When her energy was somewhat spent, she cleaned up her mess and sat down on a stool and waited. Surely someone who knew how to work some of this equipment would come in.

It seemed like an eternity until the door opened and sunlight streamed in. She saw one of the vet interns, Dilly, who had an armful of extra sample kits. “Hi, Dr. Hamilton.”

“Hey, Dilly. You can store the sample kits in the far shelving unit.”

“Sure.” Dilly put away the extra kits and then took the stool next to Kerry. “What’s up? How can I help?”

“Can you refresh my memory on how I access the digital readouts on the lab equipment versus the reports generated on the computer? They are separate, right?”

Dilly nodded. “Yeah. They’ve changed the system, and they’re supposed to be linked, but there was a problem about six months back, before that big display of dolphins in Georgia.” She walked over to the machine. Picking up the manual next to the machine, she paged through the text until she found the right code. She punched it into the keypad, and thousands of numbers sped by. “Wait.” Picking up the portable printer, she hooked it into the back and then entered the code again, followed by a print order. The machine spat out page after page of readings.

Kerry was relieved. It was one thing to follow her gut and shout to get a response, but when it fell on uninterested souls…she knew she was sunk. At least until Dilly came along and produced the exact data she needed.

“Doc, this is going to take at least six reams of paper. I’m going to run up to the office and grab a case.”

“That’s great. It’ll be a lot to sort, but it’ll be worth it.” Kerry nodded. “Thanks, Dilly.”

“Oh, and if you find yourself taking a dolphin out, I’d like to go sometime. If that’s cool.” She waited, biting her lower lip. What a sweet, brilliant soul. Dilly had a full ride to Stanford and was taking a semester off to be at the Marine Mammal Program, helping out wherever it was needed. She was a trooper.

“Consider it done,” replied Kerry. Unless I get fired for stirring up all of this crap.

Gathering the first batch of numbers, Kerry accessed the information she had for each of her patients, starting six months ago. Her heart sank as she confirmed the facts: the lab had been changing the numbers to clear the dolphins. Someone high up had had to approve this action, because the techs wouldn’t have done it for a lark. As much as she’d had a tantrum five minutes ago about their lack of assistance, she had known many of the techs for years, and they were basically decent souls. Except for this. But if their jobs had been threatened, could she understand their position? Work in the marine mammal field was tough to find, though she knew she’d rather quit than hurt any creature.

Kerry was sick to her stomach. “Morals just aren’t in vogue anymore. How am I going to fight an unknown enemy?” She shook her head. “I have to try.”

After spending the entire morning running from the lab to the office and talking with over twenty staffers, techs, and trustees, Kerry was on the verge of blowing another gasket. She was stressed beyond her capacity for keeping it in check, and she wasn’t leaving this fight until there was an action plan in motion.

“Can you repeat the course of events?” asked the Chairman of the Trustees. “I have Admiral Walter Dale on the line.”

Kerry pursed her lips to stop the string of curses bubbling inside her. She took several calming breaths and launched into a shortened rendition. “I am Dr. Kerry Hamilton. During a routine examination, one of our dolphins exhibited unusual symptoms, and I took a blood sample. Our lab said everything was normal, but my gut disagreed. So I took a second sample and submitted one sample to our lab and the same sample to a secondary facility. The results do not match. When I questioned our lab techs, they would not give me a straight answer and claimed I’m bullying them. I took the decision to our Director, and we’ve been on the phone with all parties involved ever since.

“There’s something going on. I don’t know if someone decided to ignore the unusual values so our dolphins could travel, or who made that call, but someone in a position of authority had to do it. Before I went on my own hunt, I took new samples from all of our dolphins, and I have submitted them to two different laboratories to confirm what I believe is the problem.” Kerry couldn’t keep the frustration out of her voice. It practically screamed. “Do something! Anything!”

There was a buzz of muted conversation on the other line. Kerry tapped her foot impatiently. “Listen, I have been on a roller coaster of bureaucratic red tape this morning, and while all of you might feel perfectly fine twiddling your thumbs and waiting for the dolphins’ deaths, I’m not! I’m concerned! Our entire dolphin population might be infected with a virulent disease. The time to act is now.” Kerry slammed her hands on the desk, and the painful sting made her fingers and forearms vibrate. The conference phone jiggled before it settled on the wooden surface. “What are you going to do?”

“Miss—”

“Doctor,” she corrected through gritted teeth. “Doctor Kerry Hamilton. Would you like me to come to wherever you are and explain in more detail?”

A second voice responded. “This is Admiral Dale. We appreciate you making us aware of the issues surrounding this problem. We will take all necessary steps to resolve it quickly, and we will keep you in the loop.”

The Chairman of the Trustees added, “We’ll get back to you, Dr. Hamilton.”

The line went dead.

Kerry balled her hands into fists, resisting the urge to throw the conference phone through the Director’s tiny, claustrophobia-inducing, barely usable office window. She turned on her heel and marched out of the office, knees high. She could have been a freaking majorette. Passing by several of the interns, she waved them off and headed to the docks.

Why hadn’t she taken those jobs in Japan and Russia more seriously? Would they accept her calls now? Oh, she was too furious to even think about dealing with any boards, trustees, directors, admirals, or command structure of any kind.

“Kerry. Wait, I need to talk to you.” Emme’s voice penetrated some of Kerry’s brain fog.

“What!” Kerry counted to ten in her head. “Sorry. What’s up?”

“Don’t you think you’re going overboard with this whole virus thing? They’re not human. It’s not that big of a deal.” Emme towered over her. For all the times Kerry had thought her friend cool and sophisticated, it was horrifying to hear these comments.

Kerry’s mouth dropped up. She stuttered. “I-I-I can’t believe you said that. Those are my friends down there in those pens. I spend more time with them than I do with humans, even my own flesh and blood. I love them, and I’m going to fight for them. Bottlenose dolphins are also a critical part of our ecosystem. If the subspecies dies out—or the entire species of dolphins and whales—what do you think happens to our ocean? Besides, we, the human race, probably poisoned them with pollution. Regardless, it’s up to us to fix the problem.” She pointed her finger at Emme. “If you want to be part of the solution, then help, and if not, then stay out of my way.”

“You’re crazy,” said Emme, her cheeks flame red.

“Maybe. But if being crazy solves this problem, bring it on.”

With that, Kerry stomped away. She swiped her badge at the gate on the gangplank and rushed the rest of the way down to the dock. Pacing back and forth in front of the dolphin pens, she knew she was too upset and frustrated right now. She had to calm down and develop a plan of action.

Hadn’t her mother told her as a child that she was methodical—that this was one of her greatest strengths? At the age of five, Kerry had made a lemonade stand and earned forty-six dollars to buy her father a new fishing pole for his boat. If the powers that be weren’t going to give her any answers, she was going to use her methodical ways to get some. “Right. Back to basics.”

Just then, two figures caught her attention.

“Hey, are you two busy?” Kerry asked. “If not, I’m taking an RIB out.” Without even giving the two vet techs, Clay Jones and Dilly, a chance to answer, she shared a small part of her plan and roped them into her trip.

All of them loaded into an RIB with her favorite travel medical bag and headed out to sea. “If I’m going to fight this virus, then I need samples. I hope you’re both prepared to wrangle a few uncooperative wild creatures, because we’re not going back until we get these samples.”

“Uh…” Dilly looked at her, stunned. “I have a date, but I suppose he’ll wait.”

“Of course he will. Look at her.” Clay nodded.

“Thanks, Clay,” said Dilly.

“Grab a set of binoculars, Dilly, and look for birds feeding, or any sign of a pod or dolphin activity.” Kerry held a set to her own eyes and was already scanning the horizon.

Clay drove the RIB into the Glorietta Bay Channel, heading toward open ocean waters. “Hey, Doc, I heard that the waves were breaking up around the Coronado Islands. Want to head out there? We might find a few surfers.”

“Absolutely. Wait, I have an idea. Let’s make a pit stop. Over there, the tenth house from Naval Air Station North Island Base.” Kerry led them to Leaper’s place. She pillaged his stash of paddles and paddleboards, along with several vests and three lightweight helmets, masks, sets of fins and gloves, and a knife. At the last minute, she grabbed his bait bucket, which was oddly half-full. She sniffed it; it wasn’t too bad. Hungry dolphins would eat it.

Loading it all aboard, she nodded to Clay. “Take us to the Coronado Islands, Clay. Dilly, please keep scanning for signs of dolphins. I’m going to write out a few contingency plans.” In her mind, a song was playing over and over, Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison’s song “One Way or Another.” She was determined to get what she needed.

Taking a pad of paper from her bag, Kerry laid out the options. Tucking the pad back into her bag, she prepared several fast-filling syringes along with bags for skin samples and saliva swabs. She duplicated the process several times and soon had ready-made kits at her disposal.

“Anything, Dilly?” Kerry asked, standing up and stretching her cramped legs. She hoped she wasn’t being rash. She didn’t want to lead the interns into danger, but it was either bring them or go it alone.

“No,” Dilly said, sounding frustrated. She lowered the binoculars and frowned.

“It’s okay, Dilly. Let’s give it a rest for a few minutes while I explain the test kits to you. I want you to assist me. Does that work for you?” Kerry saw Dilly’s eyes brighten.

“Yes, it does. Thanks. I won’t let you down.” The girl practically glowed with joy at the prospect of doing open-water work. The ocean could be a contemptuous force of nature. Kerry hoped it was in a good mood and would give them a few breaks today.

Kerry touched Dilly’s arm. “I know you won’t. Let’s glove up. Remember, these creatures are wild, so if it’s between getting hurt and doing your job, I want you to protect yourself.”

The waves smacked the RIB hard as they got closer to the Coronados. Kerry explained the test kits to Dilly, and then they watched the sky.

“Will it storm?” asked Dilly, looking uncertain.

Kerry reassured the techs. “One dark cloud, bolt of lightning, thunderclap, or any other weather issue and we’re heading back to home port. Okay?”

“There!” shouted Dilly as she pointed to a feeding frenzy off their port bow. “Dolphin sighting.”

“Fantastic! Great sighting, Dilly,” Kerry said. She pulled on a safety vest and hooked one line to herself and the other to a secure ring on the side of the RIB. Dilly did the same. When both of them were as ready as they could be, Kerry said, “Clay, take us in slowly. When we’re about ten feet from the feeding frenzy, cut the engines.”

The RIB inched into the fracas until they achieved the right distance. Clay cut the engine and the birds screeched, wings beating against each other, splashing as they dove in and out of the water.

Kerry laid her first kit next to her. She tapped her fingers on the hull of the boat in time to the rhythm of the water.

“Dilly, start dropping the bait,” Kerry ordered. Dilly dropped small chunks of salmon next to the boat. A dolphin poked its snout out of the water, and seconds later it opened its mouth, wanting more. “I’ve never met a dolphin that didn’t love some Alaskan salmon,” Kerry said.

Dilly brought the dangling bait toward Kerry, who quickly swabbed the dolphin’s open mouth, took a skin sample, and even lured it onto its back so she could get a blood sample from its tail—all while it was happily eating salmon. When she was finished, Kerry wrapped up the kit and handed it to Clay. “Mark it female, adolescent. The wonderful part about dolphins, especially bottlenose, is their innate curiosity. I bet we have a few more…and here they are.” Kerry pulled out two kits and moved from one to the other as Dilly fed the two males. Luckily they were already fairly well fed or they might have gotten aggressive and swamped the RIB, taking whatever they wanted from the bucket of fish.

Kerry was relieved to have three dolphin samples under her belt when she saw a larger male on the other side of the boat. He seemed to be waiting for her. Was he sick? Was there a problem? As she bent down, she could see extensive scarring from fights with other predators, probably sharks. His skin was still healing in places. “Clay, can you get the green tin from my bag?”

Clay handed it to her, and Kerry rubbed a salve onto the wounds. She could tell it eased the dolphin’s pain. “That should help you, big guy.” When she touched her hand to his stomach, the dolphin rolled for her. Though dolphins are playful creatures, this move could take years to perfect in captivity. As her palm moved over his liver, Kerry could feel the distension. “You’re sick, aren’t you? Do you have this virus or something else?” Kerry kept talking as she took a blood sample. When she finished, she pointed at the cooler in the center of the RIB. “Give me a half—the center cut.”

Dilly handed Kerry the thick chunk of fish.

Kerry eased the big dolphin onto his belly, took the fish from Dilly, and gave the dolphin his treat. He took it in his mouth and swallowed it. The expression in his eyes as he stared at her…it struck her to the core, it said so much. It was a cry for help, of need, for anything to make things better. She knew it as surely as she knew rain would fall in San Diego in February. Rubbing her hand over his dorsal fin, she said, “I’ll do everything in my power to help you. I promise.”

Sitting back on her heels, she watched the big dolphin dive down into the ocean. She shook herself and said, “Let’s get one more set of samples.”

Dilly stood. “Over here. I think it’s a female.”

Moving to the other side of the RIB, Kerry slowly leaned over, careful to keep her weight balanced. “Good call, Dilly. It is.”

Clay opened a fresh sample kit.

Kerry swabbed the female’s mouth and gave the approximate weight and length to Clay, who wrote the information on the labels. Then she took a quick skin sample. The last thing was the blood sample. Holding the syringe, she attempted to coax the female onto her back, but this lady wouldn’t budge.

“I don’t blame you, missy,” Kerry said to the female dolphin. “I get a little shy now and then too. But you’re doing this to save your species. Not just bottlenoses, but everyone related to you.”

A tail slapped the water and Kerry made a grab for it. The syringe fell into the boat and Kerry was pulled into the cold Pacific water. She came up sputtering, and the female dolphin’s face was inches from hers. Her mouth was open, and she laughed at Kerry.

“Gee, thanks.” Wiping the water off her face, she saw the large male surface beside her. Then she witnessed something miraculous: the female turned on her back and gave Kerry her tail. That kind of trust usually took years to cultivate.

Looking over her shoulder, Kerry could see Dilly holding out a syringe. Kerry gently took the sample and handed it back to the tech. Then she noticed that the dolphins were not a random grouping. From this vantage point, she could see this was a family. On some level, they knew what was happening. “I hope we didn’t do this to you.” Emotion flooded her, knowing that all creatures were connected in some way. “Regardless, it’s up to us to fix it. I won’t stop until I do.”

She returned to the boat and hoisted herself over the side. Lying on the floor of the boat and looking up at the sky, she took a few seconds to breathe and center herself. Then she unhooked the line, removed the life vest, checked that the samples were secure, and gave the order. “Back to base.”

The engine roared to life as the boat made a wide circle and headed back to Glorietta Bay. The wind had grown colder, and without a change of clothes, Kerry hunkered down on her haunches and wrapped her arms around her legs.

She studied the two vet techs who were chatting excitedly about the experience. She was relieved that the trip had paid off and they were returning with something to work with. But concern about the road ahead was nagging at any sense of hope. Even with this small sampling, it could take years to develop a vaccine. Worse yet, the devastation could be dramatic enough to cause a domino effect. What if…

Kerry put her head in her hands and tried not to cry. She was growing more cynical, and she had to keep telling herself to believe.

Someone else has to be out there working on answers. She couldn’t give up.

* * *

Arriving back at the Marine Mammal base, Kerry left the boat carrying her treasured samples. “Can you dock and clean the boat?” she asked, hoping Dilly and Clay would agree to help out. She wanted nothing more than to focus all her energy on the samples and work in the lab.

“Yes,” said Dilly, who was familiar with the process. She frowned as she picked up the trash in the boat.

“Thanks and, um, you’re welcome to come help me in the lab afterward, if you’d like. But you’re not required to.”

Kerry watched Dilly’s eyes light up. “I’ll be there,” Dilly said. “I appreciate it. Thanks. This is very informative.”

“And off the record,” Kerry reminded.

“Right.”

“Oh yeah, what about your date?” asked Kerry.

“There are other nights. How often do I get to work with you?” Dilly said took the garbage and dumped it into the trash bin.

Kerry smiled. She was pleased that Dilly was so committed. As she headed down the dock, her eyes scanned over the dolphins in their pens. She took mental notes on any changes in their skin or behavior. She walked up the gangplank slowly, protecting her bounty. She let herself through the gate and then headed for the tech tent. It was empty.

Pulling on paper booties, a gown, a paper shower cap, gloves, and protective eyewear, she let herself into the sterile environment through the double-door entry system.

She claimed a large table for her project and laid out the treasure. The samples came from five different dolphins. They’d managed three males and two females, and Kerry was excited to see what information the samples could provide.

Dividing each sample into four portions, she labeled and documented every task and what needed to happen with each one. She would send blood, skin, and saliva to two different laboratories, store one sample, and run the data herself on the last sample. The logical part of her personality was thrilled to have a set of checks and balances, but the emotional part was too spent to even contribute to the conversation. That part was ready for the work to be complete and the answer to be in front of her.

It wasn’t going to be that easy. She put all the samples in the refrigerator and found the proper shipping containers. Writing out instructions and the packaging for the two sets of samples took the better part of two hours.

Then she repeated the tasks with the samples from her own dolphins. As she finished the tasks, a wave of exhaustion hit Kerry. She steadied herself and pushed on. Her need to help the dolphins was going to carry her through these crucial tasks.

Dilly came into the sterile field dressed in appropriate attire as Kerry finished up and watched her efforts. It was like having an eager kid dogging her steps, but if it made Dilly a better vet, it was worth it.

“Ask questions,” Kerry reminded her. “I’m open to answering them.”

“Why did you choose two different laboratories? Won’t they produce the same results?”

Kerry cocked her head to the side. “In theory, yes. But it’s possible that their instruments are gauged differently or that there’s something wrong with the sample or its prep, or something happens in transit. Basically, I want the results to be the same. Redundancy is good in this case, but I have to be prepared for it not to be.”

“Are you running the same tests here for the same reason?” Dilly sat down on a stool. There were circles under her eyes, the goggles making every line look more pronounced. The poor girl looked tired. Maybe Kerry was working her too hard. Then again, Kerry never asked more from anyone than she required of herself.

Though Kerry could honestly admit that she too was running on fumes. “The tests I’m performing now are going to be used as my personal control data. I’m setting my levels here.”

Dilly yawned. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m exhausted too. Why don’t you knock off? You could drop off the samples at the shipping company before you go home.” Kerry pointed to the refrigerator. “You’d be doing me a great favor. The sooner they’re on the move, the sooner we get our results.”

“Happy to.” Dilly opened the refrigerator and took out the two shipping boxes. “I’ll text you a picture of the shipping information.”

“Thanks. See you tomorrow.” Kerry stopped Dilly before she could leave the sterile environment. “You did really good work today. You kept your head in the situation, especially given a set of strange working circumstances, and you excelled at your tasks. Well done.”

Dilly’s face lit up with joy. Bright eyed and wearing a toothy grin, she looked as if she’d won the lottery as she bounced on the balls of her toes. “Thanks, Dr. Hamilton. That means a lot.”

“Kerry. Call me Kerry.” She knew she was letting her guard down, but she wanted to be able to rely on at least one other person at work. Having that individual be a woman who strove to follow in her footsteps was a bonus, and it bolstered Kerry’s spirits. “Good night.”

“Okay, Kerry. You too. Have a great night.” Dilly went through the double door and into the regular part of the lab tent. Kerry tracked Dilly’s progress until she was alone.

Sometimes Kerry preferred things this way…just her and her work. What else did she need? A small part of her brain nudged her, reminding that she should call him. Later. I’m on to something here.

And then she got lost in the data, a world of numbers that meant so much more than they expressed on paper.

* * *

The sterile environment was empty and as close to silent as was possible at the Marine Mammal base. The dolphins vocalized and chatted with each other, and the sea lions communicated too. Kerry had determined over the years that the sea lions always wanted more food, and the dolphins adored playing more than anything else—they wanted to engage.

Finished with all of the tests, Kerry sat down heavily on the stool. She ached in places she didn’t think it was possible to ache. She looked up at the clock and saw that it was two hours past the time she was supposed to call Leaper.

She sighed. “I’m a rotten girlfriend. He’ll understand, right?”

Methodically, she stored the leftover sample materials in the refrigerator, making sure they were properly labeled, and then she cleaned up the table she was using. She took her flash drive, printouts, and notes and left the sterile environment through the double-entry doors. The whoosh of the doors was oddly reassuring, and the noise from the mammals was a welcome cacophony. Happy chatting was a good sign.

Stripping off the paper garments, she stuffed them in the appropriate bin and located her phone. She dialed Leaper’s number. It connected after the second ring. “Hey. Sorry.”

“No worries. I figured you were working.” Leaper was calm, and she was relieved he was so laid-back. One guy she had dated a few years ago had freaked out when she didn’t call at the specified time. Was it any surprise that someone like that wasn’t going to last in her world? Work was a completely engrossing experience for her.

“Yeah. I’m still here.” She rubbed her forehead and felt the paper shower cap still on her head. “Dang, I’m tired.” Whipping off the cap, she walked back to the correct bin and shoved it inside.

“Do you need help?” His offer was so sweet, but there wasn’t much more left to do.

“Thanks. No. I don’t have that much left.” She bumped her hip accidently on the table and almost lost her balance. Suddenly she remembered the equipment she’d borrowed from his house. “I meant to tell you… I robbed you earlier today. I took a few things to help with my excursion.”

He chuckled. “Yeah. I know.”

“How?”

“Trackers. They’re on everything I own. I think there might even be one on my butt.” His chortle made her laugh.

“I’ll check for you, next time I’m down there.” Smiling felt so good, especially after the day she’d had. “Thanks for the loan. I’ll load it into my vehicle and—”

“No need,” he said. “When I saw the stuff was at the Marine Mammal base, I figured you were either using it for fun or work, so I swung by and saw Clay unloading it. He briefed me as we loaded it into the boat. I’m glad it worked out.”

“Me too.” She rubbed her eyes, trying to coax them to focus just a little longer before they required sleep.

“He only gave me the basics. I’d like to hear the whole story.”

“I’d be happy to share it. My work is almost complete. I have a few more things to do.” Kerry picked up her purse and the data and walked to the lab tent’s exit.

“No rush. I’m here. Come over when it suits you.” Leaper was so easygoing. She adored that about him. How did she get so lucky?

“Great. See you soon.” She hung up.

Kerry took her flash drive full of information to her car. She had run tests on her dolphins several times now, and the results were the same. Adding the data from the wild dolphins made her even more certain. The same illness was in both groups, and it would kill them unless something changed. Her heart hurt at the thought. She just couldn’t let that happen.

She took her laptop from the case in the backseat and loaded the data onto the hard drive. Using her phone as a link to the internet, she logged into a private website for marine mammal research, recovery, and relocation. Without disclosing her place of employment, she made the data as generic as she could while maintaining the integrity of her sampling, and then she uploaded the data with her name attached.

Since she volunteered for a number of facilities such as aquariums or water-themed marine mammal parks throughout the United States, her client would stay hidden unless she decided to reveal it. At this point in the process, Kerry was hanging on to that fact in case she needed a bargaining chip with the trustees. Sure, it might cost her this beloved job, but it would save her dolphins—her friends—and that meant more than any paycheck ever could.

Reviewing results from other researchers, she located a research scientist and doctor in Greenland who had encountered the same virus and was having positive results with a vaccine he’d made. He based his chemical compounds on a study done by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, who said the virus was being named the morbillivirus infection, which “resembles a measles infection; in addition to bottlenose dolphins being at risk, porpoises and whales are too.”

Shit! This is frightening news.

Kerry sent him a private message with a link to her data. Tapping her fingers, she wondered what time it was in Greenland.

His response was quick, so she guessed the time difference didn’t matter. She read on, and he was extremely generous with his offer. He included a copy of all of his findings as well as the formula for a vaccine.

She could hardly believe her eyes. Loading his data onto her thumb drive and taking a picture of the formula with her phone, she was eager to talk to the trustees and her fellow doctors. She wrote a quick note to her fellow staffers and sent a copy of the formula, and she copied the message to the Director. She prayed they were as eager to help the dolphins as she was.

She pressed the heels of her palms against her eyes, which throbbed with overuse and exhaustion. Sending a second message to the vet in Greenland, she thanked him for his information and told him that she’d keep him in the loop.

She turned off her computer and put it back in her computer bag, taking it with her when she locked up the car. Heading back down to the dock, she texted Leaper: I’m too tired. Can you come get me in the boat?

His reply was swift. I’m on my way.

She let herself through the security gates, waved at the guards, and headed slowly down the dock. Her gaze lingered on each dolphin. She knew them better than her own sisters.

She sat down on the dock next to Juliet’s pen, not daring to close her eyes.

Sleep sucked her under just as she heard a boat pull up to the dock. Kerry was vaguely aware of the strong arms that lifted her, tucked her into a corner of the RIB, and wrapped thick blankets around her. Distantly, she heard Leaper’s voice and wanted to thank him. But when the boat began its journey home, the movement lulled Kerry into a deep, deep sleep. Darkness took her fully away to a place where dreams didn’t dare intrude.