“Yeah, you did,” Lynne said, but there wasn’t scorn in the tone.

Carson continued. “One night, my nephew set up fishing lines to catch fish to feed Delphine. He’s only nine and his heart was in the right place. The next morning, I discovered Delphine entangled in the fishing lines.”

She closed her eyes. Carson would never forget the sound of Delphine’s screams piercing the early morning quiet, or the sight of her struggling to catch a breath in the choppy water. Each time the dolphin rose up in the water to take a breath, the razorlike filament cut deeper into her flesh.

“I called Blake and the NOOA team rescued her. My grandmother arranged for the plane to transport her here.” She looked at her feet. “You know the rest.”

There was a moment’s silence as Lynne seemed to be considering the story.

Carson cleared her throat. “How is Delphine now?”

Lynne’s face was grave. “Well,” she began matter-of-factly, turning again to her notes on the clipboard. “This dolphin is in critical condition. She suffered multiple lesions in her pectoral and dorsal fins, and severe slicing across her body. The fishing line had embedded deeply and required surgical removal.” Lynne flipped to the next page, and reading farther, she frowned. “What was really bad were the two fishing hooks that were embedded into her soft palate.” Lynne shook her head. “That was one badass hook. I’ve rarely seen a mammal so close to death that makes it. She was slack-jawed, her eyes glazed. I thought she was gone. But this dolphin has a strong will to live. She’s on antibiotics and fluids. We thought we were making progress.”

“Thought?”

Lynne looked up from her clipboard. “She stopped eating. Delphine has been showing no interest in food. It’s a serious worry.”

Carson’s stomach clenched. “What can you do?”

Lynne suddenly dropped her professional demeanor, leaning into Carson and lightly touching her wrist in sympathy. “All we can. It’s touch and go at this point. Delphine continues to be cared for around the clock by trained volunteers who are keeping a close eye. They’re a dedicated group. Some of them are taking the midnight shifts. We’re grateful to them.”

“I could do that,” Carson said automatically.

Lynne paused. “I’ll be honest with you. When I first heard that you were coming I was annoyed. I figured the last thing I need is some rookie wanting to play Flipper in my tank. But I know Blake Legare. I trust him. He said that I should give you a chance with this dolphin.”

Carson remained silent.

Lynne continued. “Delphine’s weak but swimming for short periods on her own and in a more upright position than she had been when she arrived. The staff is working to encourage her to swim herself for longer periods of time.” She looked out at Delphine in the tank and sighed with worry. “She’s just so listless.”

Carson followed Lynne’s gaze. “She looks depressed.”

“I don’t like to use human terms in referring to dolphins, but . . .” Lynne lifted her shoulders slightly. “Yes, I’d say she looks depressed.”

“She’s all alone in there.”

“We don’t want to encourage too much human interaction. We don’t want her associating humans with food, so the more hands-off we can be, the better it will be for her in the long run.” Lynne lowered the clipboard to her side. “But . . . I’ve been doing this for over twenty years. Every once in a blue moon I meet up with a dolphin who is extremely social. I think Delphine is one of these dolphins.” A small smile of memory flitted across her face. “Usually we don’t touch them. One time when I was in the tank with her I accidentally rubbed her skin with my palm. She whistled and looked at me. I mean, she really looked at me, like you were talking about. I swear, if she was a cat she’d have purred.”

The memory of Delphine in the Cove, her head tilted and her dark eyes shining, flashed in Carson’s mind. “I know that look.”

Considering this, Lynne studied Carson’s face. “If this dolphin has a bond with you, if she recognizes you, it might be what helps her turn the corner.”

“I did bond with her. I know she’ll recognize me,” Carson said resolutely.

Lynne nodded firmly, then looked at her watch. “It’s time to give Delphine her meds. You can come into the tank with us. Let’s see how Delphine responds to you. We’ll let her decide.”

“Thank you,” Carson said.

“Don’t thank me,” Lynne replied, back to her brusque manner. “We both want what’s best for this dolphin.”

Carson was guided to a restroom, where she changed into a swimsuit. A volunteer gave her a blue Mote rash guard, then led her to where Lynne and another Mote staff member stood outside a large blue holding tank. The sun was shining bright overhead and the cement burned her feet as she crossed the square. Carson’s heart was beating fast; she was both anxious and fearful of being close to Delphine again. Would she welcome her? she wondered. Or was she so far gone that she wouldn’t even recognize Carson?

Lynne and the vet tech climbed up the ladder to enter the tank, and Carson followed. Peering over the edge, she saw Delphine on the opposite side of the large tank, and her breath caught in her chest. Closer, Carson could vividly see the glaring white scars crisscrossing Delphine’s gray body, still so fresh. She followed the other two women down the ladder to enter the tank’s cool water. The water in the pool was up to her waist. Lynne and the tech were already beside Delphine, holding her steady. Carson held back, her eyes glued to Delphine. She floated more vertically than was normal for a dolphin. Her beautiful eyes were open, but mere slits in the large gray head. She looked almost lifeless.

“We need you to help hold her head so I can deliver the meds,” Lynne said, waving Carson over.

Carson approached Delphine with slow steps.

Delphine, aware of each presence in the tank, tilted her head toward the new person approaching. Carson stared into Delphine’s eyes. Suddenly the dolphin let loose a loud whistle and wriggled out of the tech’s hold with one firm push of her tail.

“Delphine!” Carson cried, and held her arms out as the dolphin made a beeline for her.

Delphine let her body slide against Carson’s as she swam past her. She circled the tank, whistling with excitement. Then she returned to Carson, her large eyes wide and eager looking. Carson reached out, but before touching Delphine, she looked to Lynne.