Chapter 12

Follow the tracks to the next book! A to Z Animal Mysteries. DOLPHIN DETECTIVES

Abbi tapped Lydia's arm and held up her binoculars in question. Lydia understood. She lifted the binoculars for Abbi and held them in place so she could see through them. Beside her, Daniel asked, "Why would they do that? To scare off predators?" "Sometimes," Lydia said. "Or if they're fighting or feel threatened. And see how they're slapping the water with their fins? That's sometimes another bad sign." Abbi was secretly proud that she had identified the slapping by the sound alone. And now that she could see better, she noticed the strange shape Lydia had mentioned. She'd never seen a dolphin do that before. Dr. Herrera stepped up beside them and dropped anchor again. Abbi was impressed with how easily she could get the anchor in and out of the water! "This is as close as we're

getting, kids. I don't want to interrupt their playtime with that other boat." The boat had its name painted on the side: Riptide. Abbi put a hand on Lydia's arm to guide her aim with the binoculars. She stared at the deck of the boat. Two men about the age of Abbi's mom were leaning slightly over the side, making shooing motions at the dolphins. A third man looked straight at the Seahawk. As soon as he saw them, he grabbed a large cooler and hurried inside the boat's cabin, out of sight.