Part FOURTEEN – continued from last week’s episode –

Rusty couldn’t breathe! With the bobber out of sight he bent at the knees like Lasha Talakhadze attempting a world record clean and jerk. His adrenaline-fueled quadriceps exploded with upward momentum. For a finishing move he lunged to his toes with a violent hook set.  Arms held high!

Fish on! Then in a blink he was armpit deep in the icy trough hanging on for dear life. Sally scrambled to the floor of the shack holding his legs in desperation.

During the post-cold-war years the Mangrove Killifish experiments were halted. Professor Cosmoid Scale was now the last known living participant with hands-on knowledge of these international testing secrets.

Many years retired… He spent his pasture days nibbling smoked salmon and enjoying lunchtime martinis. His off-grid location was only known by the RCN. He had “willingly” agreed to confinement (like witness protection) and there was a classified maple leaf file at Canadian HQ stamped with the title: “Someone who knows fishy things.”

Each year coinciding with the Lenten Season, there would be a box of lutefisk delivered, and inside the parcel would be an update as to whether his standing request to return to The States would come before the Canadian Relocation Board. Previously, these requests had always been denied.

To Cosmoid… The furthest matter from his mind was the Mangrove Killifish and what had happened when the books were closed on the project. Like many fisheries biologists before him his only goal had been to make aware the potential of an amphibious fish.

Grasping at the britches around Rusty’s ankles… Sally had dropped the Glock in an attempt to secure a stronghold in this tug of war.  

Suddenly, the undeniable “click” of a handgun near the back of her neck froze all movement. “Let him go, and you might live” was the order.

— To be continued —

Part THIRTEEN – continued from last week’s episode – 

This was it. His relationship with Sally. The chance to publicly clear his name. The reel possibility of a prison term. And the truth of Lefty Van Clutterbuck’s atrocious demise. Everything hinged on the balance of getting ONE bite.

Rusty Flathers had graduated summa cum laude from the acclaimed Fisheries University in East Jesus, Indiana. He studied under renowned Professor Cosmoid Scale who (secretly) later became prolific in the research and development of the Mangrove Killifish.

Said fish was amphibious… Known to leave water for extended periods (days-weeks-months-years). This species was tested in closed-door experiments funded and labeled CLASSIFIED by the Government of Canada and the (RCN) Royal Canadian Navy.

In his early tenured years during summer break Professor Scale would travel to Lake Ontario and act as liaison between fisheries biologists and political figureheads. The days were long and mentally draining, but there was good work being done. 

Barring the Timbo Horton coffee (he preferred dark walleye roast), and his Canadian assistants’ never-ending ability to rip darts, all was well in his world. This was cutting edge discovery, experimenting with mutations.

Rusty attempted to steady himself over the 4’ X 2’ chainsaw opening below the floor of the fish house.  It was cold enough in the shack to see your breath, as beads of sweat dripped into his reflection on the water. 

Sally stood by with a Glock G43X at the ready and pulse in check. She was a “gamer” slowly shifting weight back and forth anticipating action. The proverbial moment of truth had arrived for this avenging couple.

Without warning, the cork danced to the right side of the water filled rectangle and vanished below the surface!

–To be continued–