Free Tourist Trapped by K. J. Klemme Page B

souvenir shop that touted T-shirts, baseball caps, and anything else that had enough room to plaster a logo on it. He paid a king’s ransom for a white cap with “Cancun” embroidered on it.
    They crossed over a bridge and Chad caught sight of the bored dude in the boat, fiddling with his smartphone. So much for enjoying the scenery.
    “Finally,” Amanda said.
    Chad spotted the aquarium, set against the lagoon.
    Day one: dolphins and a mall on an island. Searching for Rebecca wouldn’t be dull.

NINE
    Thursday December 10, Late Afternoon
    “I think you might enjoy this, Cooper.” Chad followed Amanda into a nondescript restaurant—except for the tables overlooking a large pool. A half dozen swimmers stood in the water, while two dolphins cruised around them.
    “Cool.” Barely a wall separated the glistening, aquamarine pool from the steely blue lagoon. The dolphins swirled and glided among the patrons.
    “The staff throws fish next to the swimmers so the dolphins will come in close. The tourists can touch the animals as they swim by, as long as they avoid the dolphin’s face and blowhole,” Amanda said.
    At first it unnerved Chad—a bit like sharks circling—but, as he watched, he sensed the swimmers’ awe as they extended their hands and skimmed the sides of the large, gentle mammals. Exclamations of delight reverberated around the pool.
    He wondered if the dolphins could jump high enough to see freedom on the other side. “Swimming with dolphins has to be an incredible experience, but what does PETA say about it?”
    “I’m certain it’s on their list, as it should be.”
    While they waited for a supervisor, Amanda and Chad ordered a couple of beers and watched as the eager participants moved to the side of the pool. One tourist waded out about five feet in the chest-deep water and lay belly-down, spread-eagled. The trainer signaled and simultaneously the two dolphins propelled the swimmer by her feet, skimming her across the water to the other end of the pool.
    The rest of the group took their turns flying across the water and the session ended. Chad envisioned his thirteen-year-old Skye hurtling across the surface, laughter bubbling out of her. Pain, like a needle, shot through his heart.
    “Señora Sloane? Please come with me.” A supervisor led them out of the restaurant and toward the aquarium facility. Chad spotted the boat guy continuing his slow cruise down the canal.
    They crossed over a catwalk, passed behind a small indoor pool, and arrived at the interactive pool. The swimmers from the last dolphin session milled around, dressed in shirts and shorts, snapping pictures of the marine mammals. The supervisor introduced Amanda and Chad to the trainers and explained the situation. Chad found it difficult to focus on the business at hand while hanging around a tropical paradise—commercialism and all, he found Cancun enchanting.
    A considerably more focused Amanda showed the trainers pictures of Rebecca and Trent.
    Chad’s gaze kept wandering to the dolphins gliding through the water a few feet away. A single flick of the tail propelled one animal halfway around the pool. The other rolled over a couple of times and then surfaced and emitted a high-pitched squeal. Chad swore the dolphin called to him. Although he pitied the creatures for their captivity, he understood the attraction.
    “Isabel, this is the couple, isn’t it?” Trainer Marco pointed at the picture. “Isn’t he the guy who said he didn’t feel well and left?”
    The woman examined the picture. “Sí. They both came down and changed into their swimsuits, but right before we jumped into the water he said he felt sick and had to leave. He told his wife he’d meet her at the hotel.”
    Marco nodded. “She stayed—said she wasn’t going to miss her chance with the dolphins. He changed and left.”
    “It was strange,” Isabel said. “He’d been joking and then he said he needed to go. He didn’t look ill—you know,