Free Black Wind by Clive Cussler Page B

model of health,” Dirk said as he warmly greeted the pair.
    â€œNo small part in thanks to you,” Sandy gushed. “Just one night in Alaska Regional Hospital and we were on our way good as new.”
    â€œHow’s Irv?”
    â€œHe’s fine,” Sarah replied. “He’s staying in Anchorage for a few more weeks to coordinate the completion of our sea lion study with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. They agreed to provide field support to help finish our research investigation.”
    â€œI’m so glad everybody is well. So what was the medical diagnosis in Anchorage?” Dirk asked.
    Sandy and Sarah glanced at each other briefly with a searching look, then shrugged and shook their heads in unison.
    â€œThey didn’t find anything,” Sarah finally said. “It’s something of a mystery. We all showed signs of an inflamed respiratory track, but that was about it. Blood and urine samples came back clean. If we did inhale a toxin, it was purged from our systems by the time we reached Anchorage.”
    â€œThat’s why we’re here to pick up the sea lion. Hopefully, there will be some indicators still evident in the animal’s tissue,” Sandy said.
    â€œSo, you’re not here to see me?” Dirk intoned sadly with an exaggerated frown on his face.
    â€œSorry, Dirk,” Sarah laughed. “Why don’t you come meet us at the lab later this afternoon after we do our analysis? We can go grab a late lunch.”
    â€œI would like to know the results,” he agreed, then led the two on board to retrieve the frozen sea lion.
    Once the mammal was hauled away, Dirk and Dahlgren helped secure the ship, transferring ashore the sensitive high-tech survey gear that was stored in an adjacent warehouse. With their docking shores complete, the crew of the Deep Endeavor gradually dispersed to enjoy a few days of R&R before the next project set sail.
    Dahlgren approached Dirk with a rucksack tossed over one shoulder and the pair of crutches under one arm. Only a slight limp was noticeable from his calf wound when he walked.
    â€œDirk, I’m off to rustle up a date with a sexy teller I met at the bank before we shipped out. Should I see if she has a cute friend?”
    â€œNo, thanks. Think I’ll get cleaned up and go see what Sarah and Sandy discovered from our sea lion Popsicle.”
    â€œYou always did have a thing for the brainy types,” Dahlgren chuckled.
    â€œWhat’s with the crutches? You’ve been off those things for three days now.”
    â€œNever underestimate a woman’s sense of sympathy,” Dahlgren grinned, placing one crutch under an arm and pretending to limp in agony.
    â€œIf I were you, I wouldn’t underestimate a woman’s ability to detect bad acting,” Dirk replied with a laugh. “Happy hunting.”
    Dirk borrowed the keys to a turquoise NUMA Jeep Cherokee and drove a short distance to his rented town house overlooking Lake Washington. Although he called Washington, D.C., his home, he enjoyed the temporary assignment in the Northwest. The lush wooded surroundings, the cold, clear waters, and the youthful and vibrant residents who thrived in the sometimes bleak and damp weather made for a refreshing environment.
    Dirk showered and threw on a pair of dark slacks and a thin pullover sweater, then downed a peanut butter sandwich and an Olympia beer while listening to a litany of messages on his answering machine. Satisfied that the earth had not come to a stop in his absence, he hopped into the Jeep and headed north on I-5. Exiting east past the lush Jackson Park Golf Course, Dirk turned north and soon entered the parklike grounds of Fircrest Campus. Fircrest was an old military complex that had been turned over to the state of Washington and now housed offices and operations for a variety of state government agencies. Dirk spotted a complex of square white buildings surrounded by