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Jason nodded and we went back inside, checking out the other habitats and exhibits. I could have stayed all day looking at the otters as they swam and played around. We got lucky and were able to see them being fed and laughed at the antics they did to get their food.
It was early afternoon before we got through all the exhibits and even went to a presentation on rescuing and rehabilitation of some of the animals at the aquarium. By the time we had walked through the whole aquarium we were no closer to finding what we had been looking for. I almost suggested we get some lunch, regroup, and come back after but Jason said we should look at the kelp forest exhibit one more time.
Jason walked over to one of the docents at the exhibit and asked her, “Is there by chance an octopus hiding in this forest somewhere?”
The woman whose name was Sally gave Jason a brilliant smile. She was in her early twenties, petite with short brown hair and expressive blue eyes. I tensed up as I saw them together and thought that Jason would flirt with her too. I didn’t understand why it would bother me but it did.
“Yes. There is. Most people don’t know that,” Sally said, all smiles.
“Was there something particular you were looking for?” another woman said from behind Jason.
He turned to look at her and I went and stood next to him. “Yes, we are looking for an exhibit that has a starfish, a seashell, and an octopus,” I said.
“What have you found so far?”
“We saw the octopus in their own tanks and have seen plenty of sea stars and the occasional shell but they all haven’t been in the same place. Maybe they didn’t need to,” Jason said.
“Well, we did find the starfish and some shells here, but if there is an octopus here, maybe this is the one?” I suggested.
“The only way to find out is to see if you can find Ricky. The octopus who lives in this tank,” the woman said.
Jason and I didn’t answer her but looked at the tank trying to find an octopus. It took us a good twenty minutes to find him with a few false hopes thrown in, Jason filmed us the entire time. We worked together, scanning the same areas of the massive tank, pointing out places we thought he might be hiding. I knew we would find him eventually and by what the woman was saying I got the impression this was where we were supposed to be.
“There he is!” I cried out when I saw a red blob with a tentacle sticking out of a crevice at the bottom of the tank.
“Are you sure?” Jason asked and leaned over me to get a better view with his camera.
It was the closest he had been to me all day. I felt his body pressed up against me, his breath on my neck, and his aftershave filled my head. I closed my eyes and tried to calm my racing heart and hormones at having him so close to me.
“I think so,” I said, my voice shaking slightly.
“You might be right,” Jason said.
“Really?” I teased and turned to look at him. His face was inches from mine and my eyes darted from his eyes which were bright and full of wonder to his lips which were so close to mine they were almost touching. I seriously thought about kissing him.
We didn’t move for a few seconds and I wasn’t sure what we would have done if the woman hadn’t come up to us and congratulated us on finding Ricky.
“Not too many people can find him but I could see you were determined and worked well as a team. It will do you well as you continue on your journey,” she said and handed me another envelope.
“Is this from Kevin?” I asked.
“It is. Congratulations on getting through the first round, good luck with your second.”
Chapter 10
Jason
“Are you sure this is it?” Natalie asked me as we walked to the edge of the pier.
“We went to the pier with the fish market on it and it didn’t have any telescopes, this does and it fits with the riddle. It’s got to be here somewhere,” I said.
Natalie took the envelope we had gotten at the aquarium and opened it so we could both look at it. I had practically memorized what it had said and was pretty sure I knew the answer, but if it gave me another excuse to be close to Natalie, I would take it. I looked over her shoulder and read the riddle.
At the end of the site of sardines and sailors
You will find a way to see what’s on the horizon
You can use this to see what’s there.
