And true to their word, the dolphins returned regularly.

It was, of course, the least she and the team could do after what they’d all been through. Now they could come and go as they pleased. Gutted from an old cannery, the building was refurbished and expanded to include a large indoor-outdoor tank for Dirk and Sally. Their new facility was smaller than the aquarium in Miami, but this one was strictly a research center, which meant fewer unplanned distractions. How he could drink coffee all day in this heat, she would never know. “We’re happy to see you too.” Chris Ramirez joined Alison in front of the tank, holding his perpetual cup of coffee. Hello Chris.Īlison smirked and tilted her head slightly. Of course, they really needed to change the part of the tank that allowed him to do that.ĭirk continued to the bottom where he swung up and around before coasting in next to Sally. “Where’s Dirk?”īefore she could answer, Dirk plunged into the top of the tank with a giant splash and performed a barrel roll as he skirted past Sally.Īlison laughed. “You’re back.”Īlison raised an eyebrow, scanning the rest of the tank’s bright blue water.

“Hello, Sally,” she replied, partially out of breath. Hello Alison.Īlison smiled broadly toward the giant seawater tank. The familiar computerized voice sounded almost immediately. She lowered her head and leaned into the doors, pushing them both open. By the time she’d made it to the large double doors, the familiar flush through her body told her that her sweat glands were kicking into gear. The layout of the new building was strikingly similar to the old one, but here the air conditioning system was barely able to stave off Puerto Rico’s brutal humidity. After flinging it open and sprinting down the carpeted hallway, she approached the wide stairs and descended as quickly as she could without tripping. She immediately hung up and jumped out of her chair, rounding the desk and running for the door. Her eyes opened wide with the phone receiver still gripped tightly in her hand.

Books by michael grumley