Free Moonfin by L. L. Mintie Page B

Brandon—” Lizzy choked to a halt.
    Captain Quinn scowled deeper, making them squirm.
    â€œLizzy’s brother disappeared somewhere around the island four years ago, except no one seems to know where,” Kai finished quickly.
    Janet brought over an iced tea and set it in front of Captain Quinn.
    â€œHere ya go, you crazy coot. You kids want your food brought over here?”
    â€œ No —they’re not staying,” he said quickly, tearing open a sugar packet. He didn’t want a grilling by three nosy kids along with his supper tonight. “What’s this about, anyway?” Thinking about Otter Island was sure to give him indigestion, or worse, no appetite at all.
    â€œWe need to know. Please, Captain Quinn, if you know anything, I would appreciate it if you could tell us,” pleaded Lizzy.
    He exhaled, eyes softening. He’d played that day over and over again in his mind, reliving every detail, every word. Sure, he had his own questions, doubts about the reports and all. Maybe even a cover up going on.
    Grunting, taking a swig of tea, he said, “All we know is the Coast Guard reported your brother’s boat was blown out to sea toward that island—”
    He hesitated, frowning.
    â€œâ€”the thing that it didn’t say was if he was on it or not.”
    â€œWhat do you mean … not on the Sundancer?”
    â€œNo bodies were ever found. There’s a real chance he got off the boat near the island, or I am sorry to say it, was thrown off before it headed out to sea and went down. They found pieces of the mast and some ship’s supplies, but no sign of the crew or the vessel itself. It’s a mystery no one has ever been able to solve.”
    â€œThat doesn’t make any sense— how would he have been thrown off his boat?”
    â€œI couldn’t tell you exactly …”
    He fell silent, recalling the events of the other day at Otter Island and the near sinking of his own vessel.
    â€œSomething out there just isn’t right.”
    Kai told him about their plan to visit the aquarium that night and asked him if he knew about any secret underground tunnels.
    â€œShhh, Kai! Don’t go broadcasting it,” snapped Jeff.
    â€œWe need an ally. Besides, he might be able to give us some help,” she defended.
    Janet brought over Captain Quinn’s usual bowl of clam chowder with saltines and set it down in front of him. He sat back against the booth, feeling weary. The memory of having to tell Robert and Linda Grape their son was lost at sea still haunted him. A fisherman getting thrown from his boat wasn’t new, but Brandon was the hardest loss yet.
    â€œNow you kids don’t go snooping around that place,” he rasped harshly.
    Lizzy could see he was upset, but she couldn’t let it go. “Is there anything else? Anything at all?” she pressed him.
    Captain Quinn slurped down a few spoonfuls of his chowder, thinking about it. He didn’t want her in any danger, but if she was going to go poking around either way …
    â€œThere is one thing …” he said slowly.
    Lizzy, Jeff, and Kai leaned in closer.
    â€œAfter the research labs had been built as part of the college, years before the aquarium was even thought of, Dr. Krell had truckloads of granite brought in and placed at the base of the cliff. We all thought it was strange. Now we call it Deadman’s Reef, but it wasn’t always that way.”
    â€œWhy is that strange?” asked Jeff. “The side of that cliff is full of loose sand—probably only wanted to make it stable for the lab.”
    His blue eyes gleamed as he remembered. “That’s what he told the local newspaper. But your dad, Lizzy, thought otherwise. He believed Krell was trying to keep people away from that stretch of the beach for some reason—more likely he was trying to hide something.”
    Lizzy’s eyes grew to two enormous green