Silent Witness (5 page)

Jennie screamed and bolted upright, almost falling out of the hammock.

“Hey, take it easy.” Scott grabbed her arm and the hammock to steady her.

“What do you think you're doing? You nearly gave me a heart attack.” Jennie swung her legs over the hammock's edge and hopped out.

Scott chuckled and spread his hands open innocently.

“You sure are jumpy. I was just trying to wake you up gently.”

“I wasn't sleeping.” Jennie brushed by him and headed for the house.

“Yeah right. You were snoring.”

Jennie stopped short and spun around, nearly bumping into him. “I do not snore.”

“Okay, so you don't snore. Do you want to know what else you don't do when you're sleeping?”

Jennie gave him her best drop-dead look.

“Hey, take it easy. You were lying there so peaceful—like, I couldn't resist teasing you a little.”

Scott's grin was infectious and Jennie relented. “Okay, I forgive you, but I'd watch my back if I were you.” She raised her eyebrows and looked him in the eye. “I'll have my revenge.”

Scott laughed and his green eyes sparkled like sunlight on the water. The butterflies in Jennie's tummy took wing and she looked away. “What are you doing out here anyway? I thought you were working.”

“I am. My first official duty is to escort you and your grandmother to dinner.”

Scott and Jennie went to collect Grant, who'd fallen asleep on the couch. After freshening up, they left the cabin by the front door and headed toward the main lodge.

Jennie hadn't realized how hungry she was until they approached the dining area and the wonderful scent of spices filled the air. The oversized multipurpose hall looked as though it served as a classroom, dining room, and recreation room. Four large round tables occupied one corner. In another corner stood a pool table, a bookshelf, and a cupboard bulging with puzzles and games. A stack of folding chairs hugged a back wall next to a projector, a screen, and a podium. On the west wall three floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the Gulf.

Good smells wafted out of a large kitchen off to one side. The atmosphere reminded Jennie of church camp. Except that at camp, loud hungry campers crammed the dining room and the noise level was high enough to shatter glass. So far, except for a couple of cooks preparing food in the kitchen, they were the only people there.

She was about to comment on that fact to Gram and Scott when Debbie and Ken joined them and motioned toward a table nearest the kitchen. “There'll only be eleven of us for dinner tonight, because you, Maggie, and Sarah are our only guests. We eat buffet-style …”

Debbie handed them menus and explained about ordering meals a day ahead, so the chef would know how much food to prepare. Jennie shifted her gaze to the door, anxious to meet Sarah. A group of four bustled in and took a second table. Debbie introduced them as their secretary Pam, trainers Heidi and Jack, and Dick, the head maintenance man.

It wasn't until the food had been placed on a reach­through counter adjoining the kitchen and dining room and everyone had gone through the line, that Maggie and Sarah made their entrance.

The first thing Jennie noticed was the absence of a wheelchair. The second was that Sarah was almost the same height as her mother—about 5'4”, Jennie guessed. Her cheeks were flushed and her skin had the healthy glow of a new tan. Sarah walked slightly behind Maggie and looked like a normal fourteen-year-old girl. Her light brown hair, still shiny and wet from swimming, had recently been cut in a short boyish style that didn't quite suit her face. Skinny arms and legs protruded from her pale blue, shell-print t-shirt and white shorts. She was pretty, or would be if she weighed another ten pounds.

Maggie pulled out a chair and guided Sarah into it. “Jennie, Helen,” she said, “I'd like you to meet my daughter, Sarah Stanford. Sarah, Jennie and Mrs. McGrady are from Portland. Maybe you remember seeing them at the airport.”

Jennie wasn't sure what she expected, some sign of recognition maybe, but Sarah stared straight ahead into a place somewhere between her and Gram. Disappointment flooded her. She had hoped for a sign that the look Sarah had given her at the airport had meant something.

Now Jennie wasn't even sure of that. Maybe it had only been a trick of the lights, or Jennie's imagination.

She spent the rest of dinner trying not to stare at Sarah, listening to the others talk, and eating egg-flower soup, veggie-wontons, tofu-vegetable stir-fry, and white rice. Everything, even the tofu, tasted great.
Maybe being a vegetarian for a week and a half might not be all that bad—as long as Gram and I can sneak out at least once for a pizza or hamburgers.

After dinner, Scott challenged Jennie to a game of pool. She almost declined when Gram announced that she, Maggie, and Sarah were going back to the cabins.
Give it up, McGrady. There's no mystery. Besides, what would you rather do, sit around trying to get a response out of Sarah or hang out with Scott?
Jennie glanced from Sarah to Scott. The girl's eyes were like two black holes—cold, dark, and almost inhuman. Scott's were warm and inviting. No contest. “You go ahead, Gram. I'm going to stay here and show Scott how to play pool.”

“Show me how to play?” Scott countered. “Listen, frog face, I've been playing pool since I could walk.”

“Frog face?” Jennie pointed a finger al his chest and poked him. “Well listen, toad head, my mother played pool when she was pregnant, so I learned how to play while I was still in the womb.”

“Choose your weapon.” Scott retrieved two cue sticks and held them up for Jennie's inspection. “Hey, Mrs. McGrady. You sure you don't want to stay and referee this match?”

Gram chuckled. “Not a chance. Don't worry, Scott,” she teased. “The McGradys have always treated their opponents fairly. I'm sure she'll let you win at least one game.”

Scott feigned a wounded look. “I'm hurt.” Then, with an eyebrow raised, he turned to Jennie, “But I'm tough. You're dead meat, McGrady.” Scott gathered the balls and racked them. “Just to show you what a good sport I am, I'll let you break.”

“Break?”

“Ha! This is going to be so easy. Just take your best shot.”

They stopped razzing each other to say goodnight to Maggie, Sarah, and Gram. Gram started to leave, then turned back. “Try to be in by ten, dear. I'd like us to chat and have a cup of tea before we turn in.”

“Okay,” Jennie called over her shoulder as she chalked her cue.

“Don't worry, Mrs. McGrady,” Scott said as Gram headed out the door. “I'll have her home in plenty of time.”

Jennie elbowed him in the ribs. “I can get myself home. This is not a date, you know.” When Scott didn't answer, Jennie added, “You okay? I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or anything.”

“Sure. I'm okay. What's a broken heart? It'll mend.” He heaved a deep melodramatic sigh, then said, “Actually, I was just thinking about what we can do to make this more challenging.” Scott chalked his cue and blew off the residue. He cocked his head to one side and gave her a smile that reminded Jennie of the Cheshire cat in
Alice in Wonderland
. “How about this? We play three games. The loser has to take the winner on a date to Disney World.”

“That's a pretty spendy date. Couldn't we just play for a couple of bucks?”

“Oh, I get it.” Scott leaned his hip against the table.

“You don't even know how to play, do you? You're all mouth and no action.”

You gonna let him get away with that, McGrady? Just because you've only played pool three or four times in your entire life is no reason to back down.
“Okay,” Jennie heard herself say, “you're on.”

When the games ended, she'd had so much fun it hadn't mattered that he'd trounced her. Or that she now owed him a date to Disney World and Epcot Center. After the first game, he'd suggested they up the ante. Unable to resist the challenge, Jennie had agreed.

“Hey, how about we head down to the beach and view the sunset?” Scott asked, taking her hand. They strolled down the short walk and along the beach. When they'd gone to where they could no longer see the lights from the research center, they dropped to the ground. Jennie removed her sandals and pressed her feet into the still­warm sand.

A breeze lifted the loose stands of her hair. The sun, a blazing orange ball, hovered on the horizon, gifting the earth with its splendor. Jennie raised her face to it and closed her eyes. “It's so beautiful here,” she whispered, afraid that speaking aloud would break the spell.

Scott picked up a handful of sand and let it sift through his fingers. “Yeah. It's a great spot. Makes you wish it could last forever.”

Jennie glanced over at him and back at the sunset. “Do you think you'll like working here?”

He shrugged. “I guess. I'll be doing odd jobs while they train me to work with the dolphins. Ken put me in charge of feeding them.”

“You don't seem very enthusiastic.”

“I love the dolphins. I just don't like seeing them used. There's a place in Australia where dolphins used to come in really close to shore. People fed them and they started coming in all the time. Some guys decided they could make a few bucks off the dolphins and research them at the same time. Anyway, they developed this elaborate park where people could interact with the dolphins. It seemed like a good plan at first, then the dolphins started getting sick. Several died. An environmental group tested the water and found high levels of E-coli bacteria.” Scott picked up a seashell and stared at it.

“What happened? What would cause something like that?”

“The park toilets leaked raw sewage into the water.”

He tossed the shell into the water. “But it was an accident.” “Right. So are all the oil spills.”

Jennie didn't respond. What could she say? She wasn't about to defend people's destructive habits, but it didn't help to get depressed about it. In a way, she admired Scott, with his intense desire to save the earth. On the other hand, she felt concerned for him, but wasn't sure why.

As they watched the sun sink into the water and the sky turn to shades of purple and orange, Scott draped an arm around her shoulders. “Hey, look.” He pointed to a bright star directly above them. “First star. Want to make a wish?”

Jennie closed her eyes and wished that Sarah would get well. When she opened them, Scott was watching her.

“I wished that you'd let me kiss you,” he said softly.

Scott was so close. All she had to do was lean forward and their lips would meet. She liked Scott. She liked his sense of humor and his serious side—especially that side because he cared so much.
Go ahead, McGrady. Kiss him
, one voice in her head insisted.
Lisa would. But you're not Lisa,
another said. Still another asked,
What about Ryan?

“I don't think that would be a good idea,” Jennie said, turning to face the water. Then, thinking she should explain, added, “I have a boyfriend—sort of. I mean, we're not going steady or anything, but … I don't know, it just wouldn't be right.”

Scott stood up and brushed the sand from his clothes, then reached down to give her a hand up. In the dark she couldn't see his expression. Why didn't he say something? “Are you mad at me?” she asked.

“Nope.”

“Then why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

He chuckled and held up his watch. “It's ten o'clock.” Jennie tried to land a punch to his midsection. He ducked and ran ahead of her. She chased him as far as the lawn, then stopped to slip on her sandals. Scott waited for her, helped her to her feet, and walked her back to the cabin.

“Do you want to come in and have tea with Gram and me?” Jennie asked as they reached her cabin.

“I don't think I'd better. I have to meet Ken at five­thirty in the morning. And unlike you, I didn't get a nap this afternoon. See you tomorrow night?” Before Jennie could answer, he added, “I'll let you beat me at pool.”

“I have a better idea.” Jennie lifted her hand to brush some stray hairs out of her eyes and realized he was still holding it.

“Let me guess,” he said. “You want to have a contest to see who can take the longest nap?” His sea-green eyes sparkled under the soft light of a nearby utility lamp.

“You nut.”

“No, I know. You want to have a contest to see which of us is the best kisser.”

“Be serious.”

“I am.”

“Scott …” Jennie pushed past him. “You're being a pest.”

“Okay, I'm sorry. What's your idea?”

Jennie relented and turned back to face him. “How good of a swimmer are you?”

“Want to race me?” Scott loved a challenge as much as Jennie.

“Yeah,” she said. “As long as you're not an Olympic

contender.”

Scott laughed softly. “You're on. Meet you at the pool at three, tomorrow afternoon.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Nothing dramatic, just the kind a person might give a brother or sister. Jennie touched her cheek. Then why did it feel like so much more?

Jennie watched him jog away. Even after the darkness had swallowed him up, she stood there. They had a lot in common, she and Scott. Maybe that's what attracted her to him. They both liked to joke around, but they had a serious side too, and a passion. His was saving the environment. Hers was finding Dad.

The phone rang, disrupting Jennie's thoughts. As she walked in the door, Gram held the phone toward her.

“I thought I heard you out there. This is for you.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “It's Ryan.”

“Ryan?” Jennie pressed the phone to her ear. Her heart was pounding so hard she could barely hear him. The static on the line didn't help either.

“Hey, Jennie!” Ryan responded. “You wouldn't believe this place. I'm taking tons of pictures.
When I get home, I'll put them online so you can see them. Or maybe we could look at them together next time you come to the beach.”

“I'd like that.” Jennie imagined the two of them sitting on Gram's porch swing looking at pictures—and at each other.

“How's Florida?”

“Wonderful. And warm. The sunsets are fantastic. You'd love them. I'll get some pictures, but it won't be the same as being here in person.” They went on talking about nothing in particular for about five minutes, both grasping for things to say.

“We're about ready to take off again,” Ryan said. “I'll try to call you next time we're in port. Oh, say hi to Gram for me. Tell her I'll bring her back some salmon. You too.”

“That would be great.”

“Jennie?” Ryan hesitated. “I miss you.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. “I miss you, too,” she said.

Oh, McGrady
, her ever-present inner voice said,
you've got it bad. Three weeks ago you weren't even dating, now look at you. You've got not one but two boys interested in you.
She could hear Lisa now, “Oh, this is so much fun.” Well, for Jennie it was about as much fun as getting her teeth drilled. Well, maybe not quite. But she was beginning to wonder if having boyfriends was worth the effort.

After hanging up, Jennie dried her eyes, blew her nose, fixed herself a cup of tea, and went in search of her grandmother. She found Gram in the bedroom. “You didn't have to leave,” Jennie said, settling herself into the cushioned high-backed rattan chair.

“Nonsense. I thought you'd like some privacy.”

Jennie shrugged. “He didn't have a lot to say except hi. He wants to show me pictures, he's going to bring us some salmon, and he misses me.” “I'd say that was quite a lot.”

“I guess.” Jennie hooked her leg over the arm of the chair and took a sip of the warm peppermint brew, letting the aroma soothe her senses. Gram asked about her evening with Scott, and Jennie told her about the bet she'd lost and how tired she was of liking two guys at once.

“What should I do, Gram? I keep going over and over things about Ryan and Scott, Maggie and Sarah, Mom and Michael, Nick, and of course, Dad. Now I'm starting to worry about dolphins. My brain feels so stuffed, if I add one more thing it's going to explode.”

“I'm not sure what will work for you, but I can tell you what helps me. First I pray about it and try to put every worry, anxiety, and concern out of my mind.”

“How can you do that? I used to be able to stuff things away and think only about what really mattered, but now it seems like there's too much.”

Gram retrieved her Bible from the bedside stand and after flipping through it, bookmarked a page and handed it to Jennie. “You might also want to read this section in Matthew where Jesus reminds us that it doesn't really do much good to worry. Things have a way of taking care of themselves.”

It seemed like good advice, and when they'd finished their tea, Jennie gathered up their cups, took them downstairs, and got ready for bed. The room was warm and stuffy, so Jennie opened the window and stretched out on top of her blankets. She prayed that God would give her the right attitude about guys and help her not to worry so much. It seemed as though lately she'd been doing nothing but worrying. It had gotten to the point where the most important thing in her life was fading into the background—finding Dad.

Jennie picked up the Bible Gram had given her and opened it to the marked page.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life …”
When she'd finished reading the entire passage, Jennie took a deep breath and mentally set aside the concerns she'd been having. One by one she stacked them in a neat corner at the back of her mind. As she'd done many times before, Jennie pulled the memories of her father into the foreground. In her mind's eye, she could see his dark hair and eyes, so like Nick's and her own. A few minutes later, she fell asleep.

The next morning Jennie felt more relaxed than she had in days. She and Gram greeted the morning by walking and jogging along the beach, which wasn't easy when they stopped every few feet to gather shells. After about an hour they made their way back to the cabin, set their treasures on the patio to dry, and got ready for breakfast. It was still only seven o'clock, but except for Debbie, Sarah, and Maggie, the dining room was empty. Debbie had eaten and was getting ready to leave. She had explained the night before that they served breakfast from six to eight and most of the staffers ate early. A twinge of disappointment at not seeing Scott surfaced, but Jennie quickly sidestepped it.
Not today, McGrady. Today is for swimming with the dolphins.

Jennie was in an adventurous mood and at Debbie's suggestion tried the granola topped with raspberry yogurt. She also helped herself to a banana muffin and a glass of milk. Her crunchy, tangy concoction tasted surprisingly good.

While Maggie and Gram chatted, Jennie studied Sarah. Nothing had changed as far as Jennie could tell, except that she felt more comfortable with the girl than she had the night before. Just act like she understands, Maggie had said.

“I'm swimming with Delilah today,” Jennie told her. “Your mom says that's the dolphin who works with you and Debbie during your therapy sessions. Debbie and your mom told us it would be okay if we sat in on your session today. I hope you don't mind.” After making several more mundane remarks, Jennie fell into an uncomfortable silence.
Now what? Come on, McGrady, you ought to be good at this, you talk to yourself all the time. Yeah, right, I could always say, “Hey, Sarah, snap out of it.”

Jennie contemplated her banana muffin, then took a bite. Talking to Sarah was like trying to communicate with a photograph. No matter what you said or did, the expression didn't change. It was like she'd been frozen in time. Jennie remembered how she felt when Dad had disappeared. She'd been numb and lost. Sometimes she felt as if her world had stopped and she had been locked inside herself.

Maybe later she'd tell Sarah about Dad, and that she knew, at least in part, what Sarah must be going through. Maybe, but not until they were alone.

When they'd finished eating, Jennie and Gram went back to the cabin to retrieve Gram's camera and note pad, then headed for the docks. Ken met them there and gave them a tour of the facilities. They first stopped at a pond, which housed a loggerhead turtle named Mr. Lucky.

“This really was a lucky turtle,” Ken said. “A couple of marine biologists near Palm Beach found him washed up on the beach. He was still alive—though just barely—so they called me. We'd found another turtle like that a couple of months before, only he was already dead. I had done an autopsy and found some plastic bags and over a hundred cigarette butts in his stomach, so I played on a hunch and performed surgery on Lucky. Sure enough, his stomach was full of cigarette butts and plastic too. We removed the garbage and got him started eating again. Now he's almost ready to join his friends in the wild.”

“Yuck,” Jennie scrunched up her nose. “Why in the world would a turtle want to eat cigarettes?”

“Unfortunately, most people don't stop to ask that question. Smokers toss millions of butts on the ground, in the sand, off boats, and never give a second thought to the damage they can cause. The filters don't readily break down in the environment. Instead, they attract bacteria. Before long they're covered with algae. The turtles eat them, thinking they've just captured a nice juicy morsel. Since the filters don't break down, they don't pass through the digestive system. The more the turtles eat, the fuller their stomachs get.”

“I see,” Gram said. “So eventually, he feels full all the time, doesn't eat, and starves to death.”

“Exactly.”

Jennie was beginning to understand how Scott could get so worked up about environmental issues. While she didn't think she wanted to carry protest signs, she might be able to do something. “Do you have anything written about this?” she asked. “I was just thinking, maybe I could do a report for one of my classes.”

“While you're at it,” Gram said, “why not write an article for one of the teen magazines? I'll be happy to let you use my notes.”

Jennie bypassed Gram's suggestion. She liked writing but wasn't ready for that kind of commitment. Besides, one writer in the family was enough.

Ken walked them through the rest of the facility, stopping briefly to talk to them about the various sea animals in their “hospital.” Gram, of course, took pictures of each one, jotting down the details she wanted to remember. The menagerie included Pierre, a dolphin with ulcers who'd been sent to them from a zoo in Europe, and a sea lion named Max, whom they'd found wrapped in fishing line. The hook had been imbedded in his stomach, and they'd had to surgically remove it.

Ken then introduced them to several of the bottle­nose dolphins who'd chosen to live at Dolphin Island. Cleo and her baby, Squirt, approached the dock, eyed the humans, and dashed away. Squirt's was one of the few dolphin births they'd been able to observe at close range. Ken pointed to a dock across the lagoon where Scott and Debbie were feeding Splash and Corky.

From the opposite side of the dock, two dolphins headed toward them at breakneck speed, and Jennie was certain they'd crash into the dock. At the last second they both turned, spraying water onto the dock and barely missing their human targets. “This is our most friendly pair. Folks, meet Samson and Delilah.” Ken gave them a series of signals, and they delighted their small audience by spiraling through the water then jumping high into the air in perfect unison.

“Since you'll be swimming with Delilah later, Jennie, why don't you come get acquainted with her?” Ken signaled her to approach the dock. Delilah lay in the water watching Jennie for a moment, then came in close so Jennie could pet her. The dolphin's skin was sleek and rubbery. “Giggle for her, Delilah.” Ken signaled her again, and she lifted herself halfway out of the water and swayed back and forth, making a sound that really did sound like laughter. The dolphin then swam away, only to return a moment later, swishing her tail and sending a wall of water onto her audience.

“Delilah! Is that any way to treat our guests?” Ken scolded, removing his glasses and wiping the water from his face. “She loves to tease,” he explained. After more discussion on dolphins and rules like, “Don't touch their blow hole,” Ken announced that it was time for Jennie's swim with Delilah.

After changing into her swimsuit, Jennie donned a life jacket and entered the water. A wave of panic coursed through her. She wished her mother had never let her watch
Jaws
. Being in the water with a 400-pound animal was far different from watching them perform. Ken had told her that swimming with Delilah would be safe. Jennie gulped.

Gram's warning to be careful hadn't helped. Neither had Ken's informative remark that a flick of a dolphin's tail could break a man's arm.
Okay, McGrady, pull yourself together. You can do this. You've withstood a kidnapping,been held at gunpoint, and even been shot at. So what's the big deal?

Jennie took a deep breath and moved away from the dock. Delilah circled her, swam away, then came back and gave her a nudge that sent Jennie farther into the lagoon.
“Help,”
she wanted to scream,
“she's going to push me out to sea. I don't think I want to do this.”

Jennie pushed her fears back and focused her attention on Delilah. “Okay, Delilah, what's the plan?”

Delilah swam close to Jennie as though she were sizing her up. Then the oddest thing happened. Suddenly all fear left Jennie, and she gently stroked the animal's side.

Ken tossed a ball into the water and Delilah caught it on her nose, tossing it to Jennie. Jennie laughed and threw it back. About half a dozen throws later, Delilah chuckled, dove deep into the water, then came back to circle Jennie again. Jennie wasn't sure, but there seemed to be a mischievous gleam in her eye.

Delilah ducked between Jennie's legs, sending her toppling. “You stinker,” Jennie sputtered. “You could have warned me.” Gram and Ken stood on the dock laughing.

The next time Delilah approached, she stayed at Jennie's side. “Take hold of her dorsal fin, Jennie. She wants to give you a ride.”

She did, squealing with delight as Delilah circled the pool with Jennie in tow. On the second pass by the dock, Delilah dove deep and sped away.

“Sorry, kid,” Ken said. “I'm afraid you're being dumped. It's time for Sarah's therapy session.”

Jennie climbed out of the water and hung her life jacket on a post to dry. While she'd been swimming, Maggie, Sarah, and Debbie had arrived on the dock. Ken helped Sarah into a dry life jacket and lowered her into the water with Debbie. Jennie frowned. “Isn't it dangerous to let Sarah swim with Delilah? She was pretty rough with me.”

Ken adjusted his glasses and smiled. “That's one of the things we find so fascinating about dolphins. They seem to have an inner sense of how tough or fragile humans are and what they need. Watch and you'll see what I mean.”

Delilah swam close to Sarah, gently bumping her as she had Jennie. A few minutes later, Debbie took Sarah's hand and placed it on Delilah's dorsal fin, and Delilah took Sarah for a ride.

“I can't believe the difference,” Gram said as she scribbled something on her note pad. “If I didn't know better, I'd swear you switched dolphins.”