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  “Yes. The older female’s now being treated for an upper respiratory ailment.”

  “How about the mama and baby?”

  “So far so good. You understand that we can’t release the dependent calf without the mother, right?”

  “Yes. Is it possible you could set those two free without grandma?”

  “It is,” Sitara acknowledged, “although I think I speak for everyone here when I say we hope it doesn’t come to that.” Heads bobbed around the room. “From all indications, pilot whales in the wild live in fairly stable female-bonded groups, and they’re rarely seen alone. So it follows that it would be less than ideal for one individual to be left behind while the other two go back to the Gulf. We’ll do the best we can for the old girl and then cross our fingers.”

  “Before we go any further, let me ask you something, Helen,” Kenshin said, speaking up for the first time since the meeting started. “Are you writing an update on the whales? Is that why you’re here today?”

  “That’s just part of the story. I’m doing a front-page Sunday centerpiece, maybe even a series, on the dispute over keeping marine mammals in captivity, as it relates to Gulf Shore Aquarium.”

  “Why?”

  “Why not?”

  “What I’m getting at is why now? The Blackfish documentary has been out for a while, and SeaWorld has agreed to double the size of its killer whale habitats at its three parks,” he noted. “Adding five million gallons, creating a maximum depth of fifty feet, simulating underwater currents, and fabricating a shoreline—that’s no small feat.”

  “Do you honestly think that will satisfy people who believe killer whales don’t belong in tanks no matter how big, deep, or fancy they are?”

  “Are we just talking, or are you going to quote me?”

  “If you’re hedging already, it doesn’t bode well for our ability to have a frank discussion of this issue.”

  “Come on, Helen, you know how it is. The other side will pick apart everything we say and try to use it against us. You can’t blame us for being gun-shy.”

  “All of you have dealt with me before, and you know I bend over backward to be fair and write stories that are accurate and balanced.”

  “And we appreciate that. But let’s face it, controversy sells papers.”

  Judging by Helen’s expression, Kenshin had hit on a sore subject.

  “It makes my blood boil when I hear someone say ‘sell papers’ like it’s a shameful thing,” she shot back. “It’s like me accusing you of opening a new exhibit just so people will buy tickets. What’s wrong with that? It’s what keeps you in business.”

  Appearing to ponder her argument, Kenshin stroked his chin. “I never thought of it that way. Back to my original question, though. What’s prompting you to write your article now?”

  “My news peg is the recent scrutiny that GSA has been under from animal rights

  activists.”

  “But you did something on that after CNN aired Blackfish,” Wesley pointed out.

  “Yes, but we only scratched the surface. I wanted to delve into it further, but my editor had other priorities because you don’t have killer whales and weren’t being picketed or boycotted then. But the issue is still volatile, given the way that last protest got out of hand with GSA supporters tossing insults, and more, at the opposition.”

  Wesley looked pained at the recollection. “You know we had nothing to do with that, right?”

  “I know that’s your position, yes,” Helen clarified. “What I want to do is capture the emotion on both sides. Why do people get so worked up about this issue that they’re willing to stand on a street corner holding a sign when it’s ninety-five degrees outside? And what would compel someone to dump a Big Gulp over the head of a complete stranger just because that person is expressing a dissenting opinion? And in a lawful manner, no less.”

  “The thing is, the argument is moot in this case because none of our dolphins are releasable,” Flipper emphasized. “And except for the rehab unit, we don’t keep them in sterile concrete tanks. Same goes for our manatees, on both counts.”

  “That’s an important distinction, and it’ll be a big part of my story,” Helen asserted.

  That appeased Flipper and seemed to reassure his colleagues. But his internal alarm blared a bit later when Helen brought up another aspect of her project.

  “I know you’re all aware the Messenger collaborates with Gulf News 9. What you might not know is that we’re working together on a debate-type TV show to explore community issues and local angles on state and national topics.”

  “That’s interesting.” Wesley’s neutral expression led Flipper to suspect the director was just being polite.

  “What’s even more significant, as least where you folks are concerned,” Helen continued, “is that the show’s executive producer is hot to arrange a discussion between Tara Langley, cofounder of SWADS, and a representative from your aquarium.”

  Flipper choked on the sip of water he’d just taken, prompting a supportive thump on his back from Kelsey and a speculative glare from Kenshin.

  “Are you okay?” Helen asked.

  Flipper nodded. “Went down…the wrong…pipe,” he managed between coughs.

  “Don’t worry, Flipper, nobody expects you to square off against your girlfriend,” Kenshin sniped.

  A look of censure crossed Wesley’s face, while Sitara seemed confused, and Helen appeared stunned. Flipper wished he could vault across the table and shove the words back down his self-satisfied supervisor’s throat. Kelsey waved her hand as if trying to dispel the statement, which hung in the air like the noxious smoke from a dozen cigarettes.

  “Pay no attention to that, Helen,” the vet instructed. “Those two play pranks on each other all the time, and Ken’s getting desperate because Flip keeps getting the best of him.”

  Helen looked to Kenshin for confirmation, and he stared down Kelsey for a tense moment before answering.

  “Guilty as charged. Had you going there for a minute, didn’t I?”

  The reporter surveyed all their faces before commenting to no one in particular, “That’s an odd thing to joke about.”

  “Yeah, well, Kenshin has a strange sense of humor sometimes,” Flipper said. “We’re used to the outrageous stuff he spouts, but I can see how you’d be misled by a statement like that.”

  “If you say so,” Helen replied.

  Flipper got a bad feeling she was filing away the information for future investigation.

  Wesley made a show of checking his Rolex. “Hey, look at the time. I’ve got a conference call in five minutes, so you’ll have to excuse me. My staff will help you with anything else you’ll need for your story, Helen.” He offered her a stiff but polite smile, stood, and headed for the door.

  “Wait, what about the debate show?” she called. “Are you willing to go on camera and take on the opposition?”

  “I’ll get back to you on that.”

  As Wesley disappeared down the hall, Helen glanced around the room again.

  “This wasn’t at all what I was expecting today, but thanks for sitting in. I know how busy everyone is. I’d like to set up interviews with each of you and maybe even shadow you as you go about your daily routines.”

  Kenshin jumped up from his chair. “Why don’t you give me a call after I’ve checked my calendar and we’ll firm up a day and time.” Helen nodded, and he hurried out the door as if his pants had burst into flames.

  Sitara slid her business card across the table. “I’d be happy to give you a tour of the rehab facility. But because of our quarantine protocols, you won’t be permitted to visit any other part of the aquarium for at least seventy-two hours afterward or have direct contact with any of our people who don’t work in rehab.”

  “Okay. I appreciate the invitation, and I intend to take advantage of it.” As Sitara departed, Helen looked at Flipper and Kelsey. “All of a sudden it’s like somebody pulled a fire alarm. Don’t you two have
someplace to rush off to?”

  “There’s always work to be done,” Kelsey replied, “but nothing that can’t wait a bit longer if you have more questions.”

  “Actually, I’d like to spend the rest of the day observing your operation.”

  “Then you’re in luck, because from here I’m going to Manatee Haven to do a routine checkup on Tillie and Tully. Want to watch?”

  “Sure,” Helen replied, her eyes lighting up. “That would be great.”

  “Stop by Dolphin Inlet afterward and we’ll schedule your time with me and my staff,” Flipper offered.

  “Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you when Kelsey and I are finished.”

  * * * *

  More than an hour later, Tyler Knight brought Helen back to the private pools where his boss, Flipper, and coworker Trisha Day were introducing Trident to swim noodles. They let the dolphin calf examine several foam cylinders above and below the water and touch them with his rostrum. They also lightly tapped various parts of his body with the pool toys.

  The reporter watched and then smiled at Flipper when he turned his attention to her. He noticed yet again how her cheeks dimpled and her eyes sparkled when something amused her. Her lithe body stirred something in him, and he liked her nimble mind and quick wit. He suspected the attraction was mutual and had asked her out after she wrote about Trident’s rescue. But she’d politely turned him down, explaining that dating a GSA employee would be a conflict of interest for a reporter assigned to the aquarium beat.

  Now, although he still felt a twinge of attraction to her, he realized it was nothing compared to his yearning for Tara. What does it say about me that I’m drawn to women who present complications?

  “I never knew this area was back here,” Helen remarked, bringing him out of his reverie.

  “That’s why we built it, to give our animals a place to chill and just be dolphins out of the public view,” Flipper explained.

  “And that’s important because…”

  “You tell me.”

  “Just like we need a chance to be ourselves without being bugged and stared at, so do they.”

  “Exactly. There’s also another reason. This is a low-stress area where newcomers like Trident can acclimate to their new environment.”

  “That makes sense. So what are you doing with those swim noodles?”

  “Teaching him how to play with them and how to interact with people in a way that’s safe for him and for us.”

  Helen pulled out her pad and pen and jotted a few notes. Then she lowered her arm so the tools of her trade were tucked against her side, behind the curve of her thigh. Flipper knew from past experience that she did it to keep interview subjects from fixating on what she’d scribbled down on paper. That’s also why she’d rested her pad on her lap in the conference room rather than on the tabletop. She’d mastered the trick of writing while maintaining eye contact with her interview subjects, although sometimes she wrote off the page and ended up with ink on her hands and clothing.

  “Everybody thinks of dolphins as friendly creatures without an aggressive bone in their bodies,” Flipper continued. “While it’s true they’re exceptionally curious and will seek out human companionship at times, it’s important to remember they’re wild. Even so-called tame animals retain natural instincts. Dolphins relate to each other in a physical way, rubbing, petting, nipping, tumbling together, and bumping. They can be combative, too, and they’re highly sexual.”

  “Are you saying Trident will hump whoever gets in the water with him?”

  “Yes. Males and females will rub themselves all over you, even the young ones. There’s no other way to say this. Dolphins are fixated on their genitals. That’s just the way they are. They’re one of the few animals that has sex for pleasure.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. Besides the usual male-female mating, adolescent and adult males often engage in sexual play with each other and even with inanimate objects. They don’t care if they have an audience, either. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a kid exclaim, ‘Look, Mommy, the dolphins are wrestling’ and she’ll turn around and just about have a coronary. Then she’ll say, ‘Let’s go see the sharks’ and drag the child away.”

  “I’ve been here before when at least one of the males was swimming around displaying himself in all his glory,” Helen recalled with a laugh. “I must say, it’s both an impressive and a disturbing sight.”

  “If you think that’s something, you should see a killer whale.”

  “I’ve seen that semen collection video on the Internet. You know, the one where the aquarium personnel are masturbating the whale?”

  Flipper winced and nodded. “I wouldn’t get anywhere near something like that.”

  Helen laughed again. And then, as if she’d suddenly realized the strange shift in their conversation, she blushed furiously.

  “How in the world did we get on this subject?”

  “You started it with that question about Trident humping,” Flipper playfully accused.

  “No, you started it with that comment about dolphins being highly sexual.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. Listen, I hope I didn’t offend you. People who work with animals tend to be matter-of-fact about their copulation habits.” When she raised an eyebrow, the trainer hastened to add, “The animals’ habits, I mean, not the people’s. Hey, let’s change the subject, why don’t we?”

  She smiled. “Probably a wise move. I’m interested to know more about how you establish trust with a newcomer like Trident. Are you ever afraid when you’re working with dolphins?”

  “No, but I never let down my guard. I respect the fact they have sharp teeth and a powerful tail. While they might not mean to harm us, they’re bigger, stronger, and heavier. Adult dolphins weigh an average of four hundred to five hundred pounds. Trident isn’t anywhere near that, of course, but he has his moments even now when he acts like a big kid who doesn’t know his own strength.”

  “What’s he done?”

  “He rammed me and almost knocked the breath out of me. And he sent Trisha careening into the Plexiglas wall of his pool. That’s why it’s important that he learns proper etiquette. It’s like teaching a puppy not to play bite.”

  “What about his interactions with the other dolphins?”

  “Right now he can see and hear them in the adjoining pools but we haven’t allowed him to directly socialize with them yet. We’re working on it. It’s a process.”

  “Is there a timetable?”

  “We have a general idea based on past experience, but there’s no great rush. You can’t just toss dolphins together and take it for granted there won’t be a problem. You have to consider age, gender, and temperament in figuring out which ones might get along and which ones might not. The dolphins we’ve introduced seem to enjoy each other’s company. For instance, Fins and Flukes, our two older females, are nearly inseparable. And Aquarius and Calypso have formed a strong male pair bond.”

  “You don’t think Trident will get lonely without other dolphins to play with?”

  “We play with him frequently and keep him busy with training sessions and so forth.”

  “Tell me what else you’re teaching him,” Helen requested.

  Flipper spent the next twenty minutes going through the calf’s latest regimen and showing her some of the behaviors he’d learned already. Trident’s youthful exuberance and short attention span made for an interesting session, and the trainers couldn’t help but laugh at his antics.

  “I think he’s showing off for you,” Flipper told the reporter.

  “He’s such a cute little monkey. He looks like he’s having fun.”

  “He brings a natural flair to everything he does. He’s Mr. Personality. Make that Mr. Dolphinality.”

  “I’ll just call him adorable, how’s that? You’ve got a budding star on your hands.”

  “Don’t we know it,” Flipper agreed. “The public really fell in love with him after Evan Sander
s’ documentary premiered. Trident: Everybody’s Baby is still the most popular feature in our Shoreline Theater, and it’s a big seller in our gift shop, too.”

  “I bought my nephew a copy for his fifth birthday. His mother said he’s played it so often she’s surprised he hasn’t worn out the disk.”

  Just then, Trident made a sound from his blowhole reminiscent of a blast from an air horn.

  Helen laughed. “You know we’re talking about you, don’t you, cutie pie?”

  The dolphin collected water in his lower jaw and flipped it up so it drizzled down on his head.

  “Why’s he doing that?”

  “He finds different ways to entertain himself,” Flipper explained. “He has a ball playing in the poolside shower we rigged up and loves being sprayed with a hose or squirted with a water gun.” The trainer handed Helen a watering can. “Here, fill this and sprinkle him with it.”

  She dipped the plastic can in the water and watched with delight as Trident bobbed beneath the liquid stream like a kid frolicking in the rain.

  “Don’t ask me why an animal that lives in water gets such a kick out of that,” Flipper remarked.

  “What about the other dolphins? Do they like it, too?”

  “Fins and Flukes, not so much. Echo gets a charge out of it, though. Dolphins are just like people in that they have their likes, dislikes, and dietary quirks. Neptune, for instance, won’t eat silversides, but he’ll accept herring and capelin. We have turtles in rehab that prefer their fish without heads or tails, and we have to remove the beaks from the squid we give Chester the loggerhead because he can’t digest them. A couple of our river otters won’t eat the meatballs we prepare, while the others gobble them down.”

  “Meatballs?”

  “Yes. It’s the same mixture that some zoos use to feed their big cats.”

  “I’ve always thought animals were a lot like kids. You know how finicky some children are at mealtime.”

  “I sure do. When my brother was little, the only way my mother could get him to eat carrots was to mash them up in his potatoes and smother them with gravy,” Flipper recalled. “The caretakers at the otter habitat have resorted to stuffing the meat inside fish to entice the picky eaters.”