Chapter 12

Investigating

Ex-special agents LaRue and Van Patten parked their car and walked to the gate of the Okaloosa Bay Research Center. Colonel Vise had wasted no time in getting the two men clearance that same afternoon, including badges and laptop access to their own little corner of the NSA surveillance unit. In return, he had asked only for daily reports on their progress in the MacArthur case. They were to discover why Adam MacArthur had attempted to enter the research facility and to establish contact with MacArthur, himself, if possible. No attempt would be made to take the silent runner into custody. That would be left to Colonel Vise’s discretion.        "This little adventure’s feeling more like work every hour," observed LaRue, as the two men waited for the guard to confirm their credentials.        "It beats hanging around that cheap motel room," Van Patten countered. "But I never would have thought we’d be cooperating with the NSA."        "Well, Van Patten," LaRue chuckled, "unemployment’s very influential. It’ll do that to a man."        The guard confirmed the record. Adam MacArthur had attempted to see David West, a trainer at the facility, four days earlier. He had been turned away at the gate and no contact information was available.        "In that case, we need to speak with David West," Van Patten replied.        "One moment," the guard scanned his clipboard and made a call. "Mr. West was not scheduled to work today. But our log shows that he did enter the facility this afternoon."        "Now how do you explain that?" demanded LaRue. "Sounds like you’re playing the part of the riddle-telling troll guarding the gate."        "Not at all, sir," the guard responded quickly. "If you’d like, I can have you escorted to Mr. West’s office. You can wait for him there."        Minutes later, Van Patten and LaRue were setting up their laptops and briefcases in a small but comfortable room with a window looking out on the dolphin pens. LaRue brightened considerably, commenting, "Well what do you know! I’m beginning to like this position better already. If we were here with the Bureau, we’d be waiting in our car."        "Right," Van Patten replied, "Colonel Vise must have more than couple of congressman in his pocket." The two men laughed uncomfortably and began the grueling task of scanning information.        "Look at this," Van Patten erupted after a good twenty minutes of silent searching. "This CIA report is describing a Russian program, training dolphins for use as offensive weapons! It says here that the animals were trained to attack divers and plant explosives on ships. Now, we know that this facility obtained some of those dolphins. I’d imagine that would interest a domestic terrorist, wouldn’t you? I just can’t picture MacArthur being involved, though."        "Kinda makes you look at Flipper in whole new light, don’t it?" replied the unflappable LaRue. "But getting back to life’s daily grind, here’s a local police report that might interest you."        Van Patten looked up, "MacArthur?"        "Bingo," LaRue smiled. "Seems our friend managed to find a lost child just last night. Didn’t you say MacArthur was with a kid in that restroom last night?"        "Right. He looked to be about five or maybe older. I don’t know," Van Patten frowned trying to picture the incident.        "Well, I have the name and address of the boy’s parents," LaRue continued. "How about I go pay them a visit and you wait here for David West."        "Oh, sure, Nick," Van Patten answered sarcastically. "You wouldn’t want to tear me away from all this fun paper work."        "Don’t worry, Van Patten," LaRue chuckled, "I’ll see I get back in time to take you to dinner." Nicholas LaRue left with his briefcase, still grinning on the way to the car.        A trip from the Okaloosa Bay Research Lab to the Cinco Bayou Marina takes 30 to 40 minutes by motorized raft. At least that’s what David West had estimated when MacArthur telephoned with their location. Evening found the Visitor again sitting on the waterfront, this time alongside the dolphin therapy pens with Sally and Joshua Crane. They had waited nearly an hour, with no sign of either the stray dolphin or David West.        "Adam, we really should be getting home," Sally looked toward Joshua who was trading whistles with a pair of dolphins near the fence. "I told Doug we’d be back in time for dinner."        "That’s all right," MacArthur assured her. "My friend will be along soon. I wanted him to see what Joshua does with these dolphins, but if you need to leave..."        "Will you be okay?" Sally asked, feeling reluctant to abandon her new friend yet again. "Are you settled with a place to stay and all?"        "I’d say things are falling into place," the Visitor answered. "When I’ve finished my business with Mr. West, though, I’ll be leaving the area. I want to thank you for your help, Sally, and for giving me the chance to know you and Joshua better."        "I’m the one who should be thanking you," she replied. Sally suddenly felt at a loss for words. She thought of the new part of Joshua she was now able to sense.        "Whatever else you manage to do with him," the Visitor began, resting a hand on her shoulder, "you’ve already accomplished a most amazing feat. You made a real connection with Joshua, even though you both see the world in very different ways, even if you can’t talk with him. Someday, maybe sooner than we think, our very survival will depend on this ability. And you’re leading the way."        The lighting effect flooded across Adam MacArthur’s vision before he could catch Sally’s response.        "Adam," the Visitor detected urgency in this first segment of silent speech. There’s event threshold emerging, ...big one. I’ve run data several times. You must connect with your pursuers."        "Wait," Adam responded impatiently, "You’re the Advocate, right?"        "Correct," came the answer, still emphatic.        "Well, you sound more like my commanding officer," Adam chuckled out loud, causing Joshua to turn and stare. "Is that how you work? By giving orders?"        "No, Adam," the response slowed, "you have free will. I was... worried."        "Tell me who you are, then," MacArthur demanded. "Give me your name or some other personal way to know you. If you truly want to help with my mission, we’ve got to work together better."        "I’m permitted to give only information that will aid your mission," came the protest.        "I need a name. Just choose one we can live with," MacArthur persisted.        "Elana," came the answer, along with the first sigh Adam had ever detected in silent speech.        "Fine, Elana. The next time you contact me just use your name. We’ll talk later," concluded MacArthur, and shut down the connection.        The Visitor’s vision cleared to the sight of Sally Crane’s worried face fixed on him. She left her next question about his strange behavior unstated, as they both turned to watch Joshua head towards the water. A small raft was slowing, reversing its engine as it pulled up to the dock.        "Good. You found us. Throw me a line," MacArthur greeted David West.        "Sorry I’m late. I usually have a crewmember handle the Zodiac, but this trip was on a scheduled day off. I sure am rusty," laughed West, stepping on to the dock.        With introductions out of the way, David brushed past MacArthur to focus on the dolphins in the pen. Unconsciously, he began to note characteristics for individual animals: their state of health, size, and apparent position in the group’s hierarchy. West hardly seemed to hear Sally’s on-going litany on the benefits of dolphin therapy.        "So tell me about the stray dolphin that’s been hanging around here," West finally requested.        "Well, Joshua’s therapist says it’s been here part of almost every day. It gets all the other dolphins agitated. And Joshua was so distracted by that dolphin. I’m certain that’s why he took off yesterday. If it hadn’t been for Adam..." she paused for a breath.        "So you’re the one," West commented, looking back at MacArthur. "I guess you’re a bit of a celebrity. I saw a brief story on the noon news about the search for a little boy and how someone finally located him at Bayside Park last night. I don’t think the reporter was buying the dad’s report about the dolphin, though."        The Visitor appeared momentarily startled, then motioned toward the dolphin pen. Joshua had managed to climb the fence and was poised to jump into the pen.        "Joshua, no!" Sally’s warning went unheeded as Joshua slipped into the water. Accustomed to daily crises of this sort with Joshua, Sally's weary response continued. "Oh, now what? No one is supposed to go in there without a staff member. How will we ever get him out?"        "This time, at least, we have an expert among us," MacArthur smiled, seeming not to share Sally Crane’s concerns.        "Who, me?" David searched both of their faces waiting for a laugh that never came.        "That’s right," confirmed MacArthur. "Evidently, I’ve had quite enough press as the hero of the day. It’s your turn."        The most difficult part of the process turned out to be scaling the fence. Once inside, West gazed in disbelief at the scene. Joshua was being towed along in the slipstream of one of the dolphins. Another one followed close behind and to the side. They moved as a unit in a slow circle, trading whistles. Joshua’s sounds were nearly indistinguishable from those of the dolphins.        "This is incredible," West finally managed. "This is echelon swimming. They’re accepting him as one of their own young!"        Before West could formulate a plan to get Joshua out of the pen, the dolphins broke formation and became agitated. Joshua climbed out of the pen and headed back over the fence, ignoring his would-be rescuer. Sally and Adam caught up with Joshua at the end of the dock, stopping his headlong rush toward the bayou. Just off the dock was the large, stray dolphin, calling and splashing.