Free Moonfin by L. L. Mintie

‘Iddo’ wasn’t in his tank today.”
    Lizzy’s stomach lurched.
    â€œThat is a problem. We could already be too late.” She couldn’t explain it, but she knew it was her job to protect Iddo. A sense of urgency rose up within her.
    â€œDo you guys believe me at all about any of this?” She looked imploringly at them both.
    Kai hesitated a moment. “It is a strange coincidence that Iddo is missing after you said he’d be in danger,” she said. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to do some snooping around.”
    Lizzy smiled, looking braver on the outside than she felt on the inside.
    â€œOkay, right then—let’s do it. We’ll track down Captain Quinn at Bubba’s after work and see if he knows anything, then sneak back here tonight after the aquarium closes. We can search around the outside for a way in.”
    â€œYeah, that way ol’ hawk-eye Barklystone won’t be watching our every move,” said Jeff with shifty eyes.
    Kai shook her head.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œNo, what?”
    â€œI know what you’re thinking, and we’re not going looking for that ice cream sandwich again or any other weird thing like that tonight.”
    Sigh . “Fine.”

Chapter 7

BUBBA’S
    A t first all they could see was the long pier jutting out into the ocean from the billowing fog, but as they made the last turn down the long dirt road, Bubba’s came into sight—a big ol’ red shack on stilts with smelly smoke puffing out the top. The creaky docks rocked with trawlers since it was a whole lot easier to get to by water than by land, and the fishermen liked to eat there because the tourists didn’t. They also had the best clam chowder in town, which annoyed the Pinkertons, who tried to steal the recipe from Bubba every chance they got.
    Lizzy, Kai, and Jeff parked their bikes in back and scooted up the worn driftwood steps. It was dinnertime and the place was packed with cantankerous men bellowing for their evening grub. Many had been on the sea for weeks where polite manners were often dumped out with the latrine pots. They found an open booth and slid onto its sticky, green seats.
    Kai dug a finger into a small tear in the upholstery and pulled out a stale crouton.
    â€œWhat would you say the color of this vinyl is?”
    â€œPea soup,” said Lizzy. “My dad used to take me here for chili fries when I was little. This place hasn’t changed a bit.”
    Janet, a silver-haired waitress with bright eyes and round, rosy cheeks, popped over.
    â€œHowdy, kids, what would you like this evening? Make it greasy and snappy.”
    â€œI’ll take a burger, fries, and a vanilla milkshake,” said Jeff. “Oh—and clam chowder in a bread bowl.”
    Kai looked appalled.
    â€œIs that all for you?”
    â€œWhat? We’ll need energy for the night ahead.”
    â€œYou’re not running a marathon.” She ordered a basket of onion rings. Lizzy ordered her favorite: the fish-n-chips in a cup, stuffed to the brim.
    â€œI don’t see Captain Quinn,” whispered Lizzy, looking around the packed restaurant.
    â€œDon’t worry,” said Jeff, “he and his crew always come in at five-thirty on the dot after a full day of fishing. The captain doesn’t usually go for the long hauls like the others.”
    â€œDoes your daddy know you’re eating in the enemy camp? You seem to know a lot about who comes in here,” Kai needled.
    â€œHe’s okay with it. He wants me to figure out what Bubba puts in his frying batter—says it tastes like flaky heaven.”
    â€œHush! Here comes crazy Bill. Don’t look up.”
    They scrunched down in their booth, trying hard to look small and unnoticeable, but it didn’t work. Bill leaned over their table anyway and blasted them with fusty breath.
    â€œHustle and bustle, muster some muscle,” he coughed loudly in their