Dead Aim(76)

“I'm sure you don't suffer from that affliction to any great degree,” Morgan said. “May we leave now? I watched you, and I think I can lower the net.”

“If you don't hook it in the correct order, you'll get a hell of an electric shock. I'll come with you and let you out.” She opened the refrigerator and took out a wrapped parcel. “As soon as I tend to Susie.” She crossed the room, opened the sliding glass doors, and went out onto the lanai. “Five minutes.”

“I believe we'll tag along,” Morgan said. “Not that we don't trust you. I just believe your philosophy is absolutely sound.”

“Come along. I don't care.” She moved across the lanai and around the corner.

They followed, to find her sitting on the edge of the lanai, which was built out over the sea. Her bare feet were hanging in the water and she was unwrapping the parcel she'd taken out of the refrigerator. “Be quiet. She's not usually skittish, but she's been ill.” She raised her voice. “Susie.”

Nothing.

“Susie. Stop being a baby. It's wrapped in fish.”

A high-pitched squeak and a gray head suddenly emerged five feet from where Melis sat.

“Not you, Pete. You chowhound. Go get Susie.”

“Galen mentioned that you work with dolphins,” Alex said.

“I don't work, I slave,” Melis said. “And the ungrateful creatures won't even come when I call them. Susie!”

Two white snouts appeared not two feet from where she was sitting. “It's about time.” She took one of the pieces of fish and threw it to the smaller dolphin. The mammal caught it and gulped it down. “That's a good girl.” She tossed the other piece to the other dolphin. “Thanks, Pete.”

The two dolphins swam closer, rubbing affectionately against her bare legs in the water, softly squeaking.

She stroked the female's head. “I love you too,” she whispered. “But you've got to take the medicine, baby. No more hiding, okay?”

The dolphin squeaked, nodding, and then disappeared beneath the water.

Melis sighed. “Yeah, sure. Keep an eye on her, Pete.”

The other dolphin glided away after the female.

Melis stared after them, her expression soft, almost radiant. Her demeanor was completely different from the guarded, tough exterior she'd shown Alex and Morgan.

“What's wrong with Susie?” Alex asked.

“A digestive-tract parasite. Nothing that can't be fixed.” Melis stood up. “If I can get her to take her medicine. She doesn't like the taste. I've disguised it half a dozen ways, but half the time she won't come when I call her.”

“Then what do you do?”

“Get on my scuba gear and go after her.” She moved past them into the house. “As soon as I contact Phil, I'll call you and let you know if there's anything else he remembers.” She glanced back over her shoulder and said fiercely, “I helped you. Now you go work your buns off and make sure he's safe.”

“If you'd been concerned only for Lontana, you'd never have called me back,” Alex said. “I believe you realize there are a few other people concerned in this. It's a big world, Melis.”

“Not my world.” She jumped into her motorboat. “My world is here.” She started the engine. “I'll go ahead and lower the net.”

“Are you totally alone on the island?” Morgan asked. “It's risky. I'm surprised Betworth hasn't sent someone here.”

“He did. Two boatloads of assholes. I electrified the fence.”

“Electrified?”

“I told you Phil was brilliant. The net gives off only a small charge to discourage sharks or other predators. But I can rev it up.” She grinned. “I told them Phil wasn't here and they still tried to cut the nets and come and see for themselves. After a couple of them were literally blown out of the water, they decided I was telling the truth. For a few weeks I saw someone far out to sea keeping watch on the place with binoculars, but no one lately.”

“They could come back.”

“Let them. As you've noticed, this island is pretty inaccessible.”

“By sea.”

“The island is so lush with trees and vegetation that you can't even get a helicopter down. Besides, I'd know they were coming and I have weapons. I'd be ready for them.” She peeled out over the water, toward the nets.



Alex glanced back at Melis as she skimmed toward her house on the island. Twilight burnished the waves and bathed the woman and her light-colored boat in a golden haze. “Beautiful . . .”

“Yes, she is.”

“No, I mean . . . Of course she's beautiful. But the island and the sea and those dolphins. I wonder what it must be like to live on an island and be able to close everyone out as she does.”