Fins & Fatalities, page 12
The training center blurred at the edges, reality narrowing to the tank before her. Her pulse roared in her ears as bile climbed her throat. Not possible. Not her dolphins.
"Vet?" KK forced the word past her lips, struggling to keep her voice level while her world fractured. Her hand trembled against her thigh, betraying the control she fought to maintain.
"Already called." Ricky's voice cracked behind her. He rocked on his heels, throat working. "Oh, I hope they make it in time."
Chapter Fifteen
Dr. Kim Pokeoiha strode into Marine World's treatment area, her braid swinging with each step behind her escort, Ricky. Alert eyes scanned the facility as she extended her hand to KK.
“Thanks for coming on such short notice,” KK greeted, taking her hand.
“My pleasure.” Keeping the pleasantries brief, Dr. Pokeoiha pivoted to the tank, her gaze dissecting the dolphin's movement. Her lips pressed tighter with every observation, each noted detail darkening her expression. KK recognized and dreaded that clinical assessment.
“Let me take you up on the platform and I’ll try and call the dolphins over,” KK suggested.
The vet nodded and followed her toward the tank, boots ringing against the metal steps as she and KK ascended to the platform.
KK observed and assisted from her side, heel drumming against the platform as she signaled each command. The twins' lethargic responses twisted her gut, but she kept her gestures smooth and voice steady—their survival might depend on staying calm enough to let the vet work.
Dr. Pokeoiha straightened, no diagnosis, no explanation given. "Take me to the other dolphin.” KK, without question, led her to the next tank, commands flowing from muscle memory while dread coiled tighter in her chest.
A few more agonizing minutes passed. Dr. Pokeoiha rose, signaling her examination was complete. The metal stairs rang beneath their feet as they descended. "What's wrong with them? Do you have any ideas?" KK's voice scraped from her dust-dry throat as they moved away from the tanks.
“I have a few,” conceded the vet. “Jasper isn’t experiencing the same symptoms.”
The knot in KK’s chest loosened slightly. She swallowed and winced against the scratchy sensation that trickled down the back of her throat. “That’s a relief.” That reprieve dissipated when she noted the vet’s expression. “What?”
“I’m not one to beat around the bush. I’m worried he might have attacked them. When did you move him to an isolated tank?”
“When we noticed the Twins weren’t doing well,” she replied, licking her lips. “He tends to stay in his own tank most of the time, even if we leave the tunnels open. He has the option to play with Corey and Carey if he wants.”
“I see. My assessment stands. I believe he may be attacking them,” she repeated. “There are certain behaviors…”
“You can’t be serious,” she rasped. Color drained from KK's face as she staggered backward. When the vet averted her eyes, KK's head jerked in denial. “You’re wrong.” She spun around, trying to find some ally, and caught sight of Dee entering. “Dee, could you come here for a second?”
Dee bounded over, grinning. “How can I help?”
“This is the vet, Dr. Pokeoiha,” KK introduced.
Dee’s smile slid off his face when he heard the word ‘vet.’ “What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”
“It’s the twins,” KK indicated. “They’re not well. She’s…” KK hesitated, not wanting to say the words, certain that voicing them aloud would morph them into reality even more than it already was. She coughed, cleared her throat, and pressed on. “She’s speculating Jasper’s been attacking them.”
She had been hoping for an outright denial from Dee, a disbelief so adamant that she’d feel silly for doubting Jasper for even a minute. Her desperate wish for Dee's denial crumbled at his quiet, "Oh."
“Oh, what?” KK asked, her voice hoarse.
Dee swallowed. “It’s just…Uh…” His gaze darted to the vet, then away. He was protecting Jasper. KK's chest wrenched with fresh dread.
“It’s okay. If the vet needs to know, you should tell her,” KK stated.
He hesitated, all eyes on him as he debated with himself.
“Well, Jasper hasn’t been eating,” he said. “I don’t know if that might result in him lashing out, but…”
KK started, mouth working with unspoken words. Jasper wasn’t eating? How had she missed that?
“That could explain sudden aggression,” the vet suggested. “Could you tell me more?”
Again, he glanced at KK. She gestured for him to go on even as she knew she would loathe his next words.
“The last couple of times I’ve tried to feed him before his training session, he’s lashed out. Earlier today, he leaped out of the water and swatted the bucket out of my hand and sent fish flying everywhere.”
“What?” The notion slammed against her trainer's instincts. Jasper lived for his rewards—the first to appear at feeding time, the quickest to learn new behaviors for treats. She'd built their entire training relationship on his eager appetite.
“It’s true,” Ricky added from behind her.
KK turned and saw that most of her crew were standing there, waiting to hear the news. Debbie’s eyes narrowed at Dee while Ricky continued.
“I cleaned up the mess before the vet came. And I saw him agitated with the other trainers.” His eyes skittered away from hers. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
KK's mind stumbled over Ricky's revelation. She turned away, shame burning through her veins. She had been so preoccupied with the dead poacher and uncovering their operation that she had neglected the important aspects at Marine World. “I…” KK trailed off, unsure what to say.
Nikki approached, her hand settling on KK's shoulder. “It’s okay,” she said. “He’s probably experiencing some PTSD. We know animals can experience it in some form or fashion. I’m sure it’ll get better…”
Neither Nikki's trembling voice nor the vet's tight expression offered KK much comfort. Their doubt pierced through their attempted reassurances.
“It might not be that,” KK fretted, grasping at holey straws. “It could be…well, some males grow restless in captivity when they mature. His hormones could be...Perhaps he needs…" Her words trailed into the charged silence. The tears burned behind her eyelids. She couldn’t say the final words: he might need to leave Marine World.
KK studied the tank where Jasper drifted, his presence as vital to her as oxygen. His rescue forever changed her over the past several months as she rehabilitated and trained him. Each had mended the other's wounds from that traumatic night. No matter what she felt, she would always do what was best for Jasper, even if it meant letting him go.
“It’ll be fine,” Debbie said. “In a few days, it’ll all go back to normal.”
“If it comes to him going back into the ocean, I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Dee said, trying to put a positive spin on a horrible, horrible situation. “He’s a smart guy, and he’s got a lot of energy. I’m sure he’d love the wide open space of the endless horizon. Think of all the yummy food he’d be able to eat.”
“It might not be that simple,” the vet chimed in. “He’s healed well from his previous injuries, but there are several factors including that his rescue involved losing his parents while being attacked—he never learned how to live in the ocean. That would prevent him from being released.”
“You don’t think releasing him is an option if it comes to that?” Dee asked.
KK and Dr. Pokeoiha both shook their heads in unison.
KK couldn’t speak. Everything seemed to be spinning.
And still, the bad news kept coming, only getting worse.
“I need to warn you. I have to report any suspected abuse to animal control," the vet said.
KK’s stomach plummeted as the words slammed into her like a tidal wave. She gaped, horrified, unwilling to process the vet’s findings.
“You’re not going to…” she choked, unable to voice the words. She felt a presence beside her. Tony’s hand went to the small of her back in consolation.
“That’s for animal control to decide,” Dr. Pokeoiha stated. Her chestnut-colored eyes filled with empathy, softening the harsh lines of her angular face."If it comes to that, I'll make sure he never suffers," Dr. Pokeoiha said, gripping KK's shoulder.
KK’s muscles locked, disbelief crashing into rage. She knew Jasper would never attack the twins. He saw them as part of the family. He might have a feisty, sardonic personality, but that didn’t mean he was dangerous. Someone had to be sabotaging Marine World again, and had the audacity to use Jasper as their scapegoat. Every shred of evidence condemned him, but her instincts screamed otherwise. Without proof, she'd lose him. Her silent rage burned, unheard, and useless.
“I have to get going.” Dr. Pokeoiha’s hand dropped. “Keep me posted on the twins and call me the instant you notice they get worse. I’ll send over a prescription for you to pick up.” She nodded briefly to the others and turned to leave.
KK’s curt nod confirmed her understanding before her legs finally remembered how to move. KK caught Dr. Pokeoiha's arm. The vet turned, eyebrow arched, waiting.
“Can you at least wait a few days to tell animal control?” she asked. “Give me some time to sort this out. He’s in an isolated tank, after all. He can’t hurt the twins. Please, just—”
A startled shriek interrupted her plea. KK and the vet spun toward the source of the scream. Debbie clutched the bucket of fish to her chest at the edge of Jasper's tank. Her pale face tracked his circles below before she faced the others.
“S-sorry,” Debbie stammered. “He tried to nip at me. I—I mean, he leaped in the air. I’m sure he’s hungrier than we thought or was trying to play.”
KK's heart sank watching Debbie's forced smile. KK adored Debbie and years of working with her had shown her every tell—and Dr. Pokeoiha saw through the lie just as clearly. Her last chance at buying time for Jasper evaporated as she turned back to the vet.
“No promises,” she said. The sorrowful, almost remorseful look in the vet’s eyes told her everything KK needed to know. The last glimmer of hope was extinguished to a feeble splutter.
The vet left, leaving KK standing in the middle of the room, staring after nothing as her heart broke. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping against hope that, when she opened them again, it would all be a bad dream.
She opened her eyes to an unchanged reality—her employees watching her, their faces painted with a pity she couldn't bear.
“I’m going to take Ginny to sit with Jasper,” Tim voiced, scooping the puppy up in his hands. The dog tried to lick his cheek, her tail wagging. “It usually calms him down. I think he likes her.”
KK nodded. "Be extra vigilant," she ordered, her voice steadying. "Have Nikki assist."
"I always am." His smile faltered as he clutched Ginny closer, casting a wary glance at Jasper before setting his phone down and climbing the ladder. “Oh, man. I completely forgot. KK, none of the dolphins are in show condition," Tim said, running a hand over his head, his foot on the bottom rung, "but maybe working with Jasper will help get him back to his old self and eating again. At least until we figure this out."
“I’m sorry,” Ricky muttered. “I, uh, should get back to work.”
He wandered off, KK watching his retreat. Always sorry, always muttering—yet nothing ever changed with Ricky. But her mind was too clouded with exhaustion to puzzle through his constant apologies. Everything blurred together, each crisis bleeding into the next.
"I need to...I should..." Debbie stumbled back from the platform, still clutching the empty bucket. She steadied herself against the railing. She scurried down the stairs. “I’ll be in the break room. Flyers need sorting for tomorrow's show—or not show.”
The event calendar on her desk swam into her mind’s eye—three performances tomorrow, all sold out. Hundreds of visitors expect Jasper's star flips, his playful splashes, and his gentle nudges for treats as he performs alongside the twins. Which means hundreds of people she'd have to disappoint.
"Three full shows." KK pressed her fingers to her temples. "The refunds will wipe us out, Tony. We're already running on fumes."
"Hey, come on." Tony took her by the elbow and guided her back to her office. "I think you need to sit down for a bit."
She gave a bitter laugh. "No time," she said, her voice growing higher-pitched. "I've got to notify all the attendees and refund everyone their money for the now-cancelled show tomorrow."
“Worry about that in a minute,” he said, opening the door to her office. “Take some time for yourself. I’m going to get you a glass of water, all right?”
He came back to find her sitting at her desk, typing and wiping her eyes.
“How does this sound?” she asked. “‘We regret to inform our audience that all of our dolphin shows are canceled until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please call the number below to request a refund or a voucher for a future date.’”
“I thought I told you to take a moment.”
“I don’t have that luxury.” She shot to her feet, combing her fingers through her hair as her mind reeled, refusing to settle. She made her way to stand in front of Tony. “We are about to take a large loss, and funds are tight because I made those stupid tech updates to the tunnels. I thought we had the money. Something’s wrong with the twins and we have no idea what. On top of all that, Jasper is now on even thinner ice with animal control, who already hate him.” She pulled at her hair. “I’m running the place into the ground.”
“No. You’re not.” He took a step closer, hand reaching up before falling back to his side. ”KK, you’re doing amazing.”
“Don’t you start lying to me.”
“I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. Everything is going terrible and it’s all my fault.”
Her walls crumbled. Every fear, every threat, every hour of exhaustion crashed through her at once, and the tears came in heaving waves. KK grabbed Tony's shirt, pulling him close as if he could shield her from the tsunami of overwhelming helplessness. Her sobs echoed against his chest, raw and desperate.
Tony stiffened for a heartbeat before his strong arms encircled her. His embrace felt like coming home, like he'd held her together a thousand times before. He rested his chin on her head, his rhythmic heartbeat a counterpoint to her ragged breaths, and let her break.
“It’s all right,” he whispered. “I got you.”
Chapter Sixteen
KK marched up the police station steps, remembering her last voluntary visit—the day she'd reported the poachers who had orphaned Jasper. The same fury burned in her chest, but this time she had no choice. Despite her distrust, she needed the handful of decent officers here. Without their help, she'd lose Jasper forever.
She had one agenda: find the poachers, save Jasper, the twins, and Marine World.
Fluorescent lights flickered over empty chairs, and decade-old wanted posters as KK entered the precinct. Behind the desk, an officer barely glanced up from his crossword puzzle when she passed by, heading straight for the detective’s cubicle.
Detective Kremer's gaze dragged from his paperwork to her face, resignation etched in every line. The pen in his hand stilled. Half-joking, half-serious, he asked, “Have you been arrested again?”
“Not yet,” she said. “May I sit? I need your help.”
He blinked as if the admission surprised him. He gestured toward the empty seat.
“Thanks.”
“What can I do for you?” he asked, shifting aside the file he’d been working on.
“I came to see if you had any more leads on MJ’s murderer. Or the poachers in general.”
Kremer cracked a smile, leaning forward in his chair. “I figured that’s why you were here.” He shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. I’m sorry.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, more than a hint of desperation in her voice. At this point, I'd take eyebrow wiggling as a sign. A cough. A strategic coffee spill." She leaned closer. "Come on, Detective.”
He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “I wish I could, KK. I wish I could say I’m not at liberty to disclose any information about the case, but I’m afraid we have no leads.”
KK scanned the bullpen, watching officers drifting past them, suddenly interested in the water cooler. Kremer leaned back, studying her with that infuriating cop-calm. "What's really on your mind this time, Ms. Kawai?”
“Uh, how about the fact that I found a body and want to make sure his case is solved,” she noted.
The edge of Kremer’s lip tilted upward.
“Give me some credit. I’ve been playing this detective ‘game’ for a while now. What are you holding back?”
KK assessed the station again; specifically looking for Captain Knight's imposing frame, as if mentioning problems at Marine World might summon him. Finding only disinterested officers, she leaned in. “Something funny’s happening at Marine World,” she confessed. “I think the poachers are behind it. The problem is, I need to find a way to prove it. Right now, the best lead I’ve got is that letter.”
Kremer listened, studying her face. “I’m having trouble connecting the dots,” he admitted. “You sure it couldn’t just be bad luck?”
“Bad luck that only started happening after a man died? A man who was part of a group with a known grudge against Marine World?”
He lifted a shoulder, the tension between his brows, softening. KK got the feeling this man could shrug off anything. “I’ve heard stranger coincidences,” he said.
“Not this time,” she promised. “There’s more going on. I think the note on the body is the key.”
Kremer sighed, raking a hand down his face. “Even if I believed you—and I’m not saying I do—my hands are tied. Forensics has the letter, and again, no new evidence has surfaced.”
