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As she left the lab building area, Gaiven the bu foot on the island, she had been wined, dined, zipped through a packaged tour, and prepped to be sent on her way in the

Mayhew had been correct to fear the attention of a trained observer She ht have passed off his close attention to her every move as a clumsy attempt at hospitality, but there was no doubt that he had tried a verbal bait and switch concerning the jellyfish tank’s occupants

Gaial little research group was a facade No amount of bar-room cheer could hide the fact that the island was a secretive, herhed too hard, or, in the case of Mayheitched on his phony jaw-breaker smile

GAMAY MADE HER WAY to the dock to get so a skiff He saw her approaching and rear stub from his mouth

“ ’ Afternoon, Dr Gaood tour of the labs?”

“It was short but interesting,” she said, keeping a poker face

Dooley picked up on the unenthusiastic response

“Thought so,” he said with his jack-o’-lantern grin

“I saw Dr Song Lee in one of the labs,” she said “Doesn’t she go kayaking every afternoon about this time?”

Dooley nodded “Like clockwork She’ll go out later on”

Gamay pointed to the kayak rack

“Could I borrow one of those, Dooley? I’ve got a few hours, and thought it roves”

Dooley plunked his paintbrush into a can of turpentine

“I’d be glad to show you around in my boat, Dr Ga”

Having nothing else to occupy her tiot into Dooley’s boat He headed away frooosed the throttle The double hulls cut through the flat water like scissors through silk Within roves