McKenzie’s Oregon Operation

by Shari Barr

  “Great!” Alex said, lowering the recorder. “I’ll record more after we get inside.”

  A steady stream of people of all ages hurried past them, forming lines at the ticket booth. Others stopped to pose in front of the large brass sea lion statue out front and have their picture taken.

  “Let’s go.” Alex grabbed McKenzie’s arm. “People are lining up for tickets already.”

  After paying their admission, the girls stepped inside the lobby and waited for the tour to begin. A young man wearing a red polo shirt and matching cap approached their group of about fifteen people. He had long blond hair and looked about twenty years old.

  “Hi. I’m Colby, your tour guide. If you’ve never been to Sea Lion Harbor before, you’re in for a treat. I see most of you dressed warmly. That’s good. It gets chilly down in the cave. Let’s get started. Follow me, folks.”

  The girls hurried down the hall following Colby as he led the group down a set of stairs to an elevator.

  “Once the elevator lowers us two hundred feet down, we’ll take more stairs and climb farther down to the observation area,” Colby explained as the elevator descended. “A few sea lions may be inside the cave, but most of them will be outside on the rocky ledges. In the spring and summer, sea lions prefer to be outside in the fresh air.”

  McKenzie felt her stomach twitch as the elevator dropped lower and lower into the ground. After they reached the bottom, they stepped out of the elevator. The girls followed Colby and the rest of the group down a set of stairs. Tiny lights set into the wall lit their way.

  McKenzie peered over the railing into the darkness of the cave. The air smelled damp and musty. McKenzie shivered despite the sweatshirt she had worn. Alex was at the end of the line, recording every minute with her video recorder.

  At the bottom of the stairs, they turned a corner and stepped into a well-lit observation area. Water from the cove rushed through a tunnel, forming a natural pool at the bottom of the cave. Though only a few sea lions gathered in the pool, they sounded like a thousand. Their barking echoed off the cave walls.

  McKenzie searched the group of sea lions, hoping to see Mario and Bianca. She was praying that the two pups had somehow gotten separated from their mother, Susie, and made their way in here. She knew it was not likely, but she couldn’t help hoping. Scanning the herd of sea lions, she groaned inwardly.

  They’re not here, either, she thought dismally.

  Down inside, McKenzie felt guilty for suspecting the Frankses of stealing the pups. Though the young boy claimed he had seen the theft, he could have been mistaken. But the description of the man’s fish tattoo seemed too coincidental. McKenzie felt the boy was speaking the truth. But why would anyone steal some of God’s precious animals? If the Frankses actually stole them, surely they knew it was illegal, McKenzie thought.

  “Let’s record some more here,” Alex said as she tugged McKenzie into position in front of the railing.

  “I can’t hear a thing you’re saying!” McKenzie yelled over the din of the barking sea lions behind them.

  “This could be interesting!” Alex practically screamed in McKenzie’s ear. “But let’s try it.”

  After several attempts at recording McKenzie’s report, Alex broke into a fit of giggles. “All I can see through the viewfinder is your mouth moving, while the sea lions are barking their heads off. It almost looks like you’re barking your head off, too!”

  “Maybe I can report separately, when we get away from all this noise,” McKenzie said.

  The girls hurried to catch up with Colby and the rest of the group who had left the observation area. The tour guide led the group outside, down another set of stairs to the outdoor viewpoint. As Alex recorded the herd of sea lions on the rocky ledge, McKenzie stepped closer to the tour group.

  “Can sea lions be hunted?” a man asked.

  “No, it is illegal to hunt sea lions,” Colby answered. “The number of Steller sea lions have decreased over the years. But since laws are in place to protect all marine mammals, hopefully their numbers will increase.”

  McKenzie pulled a notebook from her backpack and scribbled notes in case she needed them later. As she turned to head back to Alex, Colby’s voice caught her attention.

  “Many people love to watch the sea lions at play. They adapt well to captivity and are natural entertainers.” Colby pointed out several sea lions putting on a show for the audience by spinning in the water.

  The group gathered at the railing, watching the sea lions frolic below them. Alex paced about the upper ledge, recording the animals from various angles.

  McKenzie’s mind was lost in thought when she felt her cell phone vibrate in her pocket. Stepping away from the barking sea lions, she saw Bailey’s phone number on the screen.

  “Hey, Bailey,” McKenzie answered, plugging her other ear with her finger to drown out the background noise.

  “I can hardly hear you,” Bailey said. “What’s all that noise?”

  “We’re at the Sea Lion Harbor taking a tour. That barking is from the sea lions,” McKenzie explained.

  “Well, I just wanted to tell you I’ve been researching sea lions. I found an Internet article that says they make great performers in circus acts and marine shows,” Bailey said.

  “Really? That’s cool,” McKenzie said. “I wonder what kinds of acts they can do.”

  “I don’t know,” Bailey said. “The article didn’t say. Maybe the thieves want to sell them for an act, though.”

  McKenzie thought for a moment. “That’s an idea, anyway. Maybe I can ask our tour guide about it.”

  After saying good-bye to Bailey, McKenzie hung up and stuffed the phone in her pocket. The group had scattered about the observation area, many of them snapping pictures.

  While she waited for Alex to finish taping the sea lions, McKenzie walked over to Colby. He was leaning on an iron railing, staring at the sea lions below. He looked up as she approached.

  “My friend and I are doing a video report for a public TV station. Could I ask you a few questions?” McKenzie asked.

  “Shoot,” Colby answered, still leaning on the railing.

  “We’re trying to figure out what happened to the missing sea lion pups.” McKenzie held her notepad and pen, poised to write. “A friend of mine said that sea lions are used for circus acts. Is that true?”

  Colby’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, some shows around the country use them for entertainment.”

  “How and where are sea lions trained?” McKenzie continued.

  Colby stood up straight, looking at her with piercing eyes. He paused and asked, “What do you know about these missing pups?”

  “Nothing, really,” McKenzie said, wondering why he didn’t answer her question. “We heard they might have been stolen, so we’re trying to figure out where the thieves might have taken them.”

  “So, you think you can find these baby sea lions?” Colby smirked.

  “Well, we’re pretty good at solving mysteries,” McKenzie explained. “We have some clues already.”

  Colby’s eyes narrowed as he folded his arms across his chest. “What kind of clues?”

  McKenzie suddenly felt uncomfortable. Why is he so concerned about the information we have? she wondered while Colby tapped his foot.

  “Well, we have a description of the couple seen taking them. Since sea lions are used in circus acts, I’m wondering if the thieves are planning to train and sell them. If we could get inside a training center, maybe we could find the pups,” McKenzie said.

  Colby turned away and stared absentmindedly at the sea lions in the cove.

  Did I say something wrong? McKenzie wondered. He acts almost upset with me for asking about Mario and Bianca.

  After a minute, Colby turned back to McKenzie. “I know somebody who may have answers for you. Let me make a quick phone call.”

  McKenzie took a deep breath. He must not be mad after all if he wants to help. Maybe he’s just concerned about the sea lions.
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  Colby walked to the far side of the observation area. He pulled a cell phone from a clip at his waist. He glanced at McKenzie, then turned his back to her. The noise of the sea lions was so loud that she couldn’t hear a word he said on the phone.

  A movement behind McKenzie caught her attention. Turning, she saw Alex approaching. McKenzie quickly filled her in on her phone call with Bailey and her conversation with Colby.

  The girls waited anxiously until Colby returned. “Well, girls, I have a surprise for you. I called Sea Park and told them about your video report and your questions. They are happy to help you out. The moment this tour is over, they want you to come for a special tour of the park. Someone there will have all the answers for you.”

  McKenzie’s jaw dropped open as she looked at Alex, then back at Colby. “Really? We can do that?”

  “They’re making an exception. Go through the main doors to the souvenir shop and ask for Nina. Don’t mention this to anyone else, though. This isn’t something they normally do. But since you’re doing this special report, they wanted to help out.”

  “Do we need tickets?” McKenzie asked, glancing at her watch.

  “No. Just tell the cashier I sent you. You should have no problem,” Colby said with a pleased expression. “Oh, and be sure to bring your video camera. You’ll want to take pictures of the marine animals.”

  “We’ll have to ask my Aunt Becca first. She’ll be here in a few minutes. But I’m sure it’ll be okay,” McKenzie said with excitement.

  “All right, then. I’ll call Sea Park and let them know it’s all set,” Colby said as he walked over to the railing and motioned for the tour group to gather.

  McKenzie and Alex were so excited they barely heard Colby as he wrapped up the tour. “If the Frankses are hiding the sea lion pups there, maybe we’ll find them,” McKenzie whispered to her friend.

  McKenzie called out “thank you” to Colby and headed to the parking lot as she saw Aunt Becca’s car. Both girls began talking at once as they climbed in the backseat. They told her all about the Sea Lion Harbor tour and Colby’s offer of a tour at Sea Park.

  “I’ve never heard of them giving free tours,” Aunt Becca said skeptically as she turned up the air-conditioning. “That must be something new they’ve started. I can drop you two off there while I run errands. After that, we’re going on the Cape Perpetua tour. You’ll love it. The views from the top of the lighthouse are amazing. You can see for miles.”

  A few minutes later Aunt Becca dropped them off at Sea Park. She promised to come pick them up the minute they called and told her they were finished.

  A line was forming outside for the next show, so the girls moved around the crowd. The souvenir shop next to the lobby was busy with people waiting to get tickets. The girls passed row after row of sea lion knickknacks, T-shirts, and stuffed toy sea lions. Slinking through the crowd, the girls walked to the cashier’s counter and waited their turn.

  “We’re looking for Nina,” McKenzie said to a black-haired young man with “Warren” on his name tag.

  “She stepped out for a while. Can I help you?” he asked as he tucked a receipt into the cash register drawer.

  “We’re here for a private tour of Sea Park,” McKenzie explained.

  Warren looked quizzically at the girls. “I’ve never heard of any private tours.”

  “Colby, the tour guide at Sea Lion Harbor, arranged it. He set it up,” McKenzie stated firmly. “He said to ask for Nina.”

  Warren reached for the phone. “That figures,” he muttered. “Those Frankses are only here in the summer, but they’re always pulling stuff like this, acting like they own the place.”

  The Frankses? Could Colby and Nina be related to Mel and Tia Franks? Oh no! McKenzie thought. I told Colby we were trying to solve the mystery of the missing sea lion pups.

  McKenzie turned to Alex while she listened to Warren’s phone conversation. “Hey, Nina. The kids are here that your brother sent over for a tour. Do you know anything about it?”

  Warren listened and then turned his back to them, muttering into the receiver, “What do you mean, you want me to give the tour? Okay, okay. I’ll show them the tanks.”

  Warren groaned as he hung up the phone. He motioned for the girls to follow him. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  He told his assistant he was leaving and ushered the girls out a side door past the crowd of people lined up for the show. He led them down a long concrete hallway lined with several metal doors. A damp, fishy smell wafted up the empty corridor. The girls’ footsteps echoed as their shoes slapped the cement floor.

  Something is really strange, McKenzie thought. No one seems to know anything about this tour.

  McKenzie swallowed and spoke to Warren, “I’m really sorry, but Colby set it all up. We’re doing a video report for public TV, and we go home in a few days.”

  Warren turned and gave a slight smile. “It’s not your fault. Colby and Nina think just because their parents are trainers that they can do anything they want. Actually, I need a break from the souvenir shop anyway.”

  “So Colby and Nina are Mel and Tia Franks’ kids?” McKenzie asked.

  “Yep,” he said, stopping at a door with a tiny glass window in it. “They sure are. Nina wanted to make sure I showed you the inside of this room. In here you’ll see the tank where we train some of our sea mammals.”

  Warren opened the door. Alex lifted her camcorder and swept the viewfinder across the room. A large tank sat in the center of the room, with ledges built along the sides. At first McKenzie thought the tank was empty, but then she saw dark shadows near the far end.

  She stared at the two shimmering gray bodies beneath the water. Her jaw dropped open, and her heart pumped wildly. The two mammals swimming in the tank looked exactly like Mario and Bianca!

  Suspicions!

  McKenzie edged toward the tank for a closer look. The two mammals swam forward and raised their heads out of the water. McKenzie’s heart sank. They weren’t Mario and Bianca, after all. They weren’t even sea lions; they were young seals.

  “For a minute, I thought we’d found the missing sea lion pups,” McKenzie said with disappointment.

  “Yes, from a distance, seals look a little like sea lions.” Alex stepped forward and stopped recording.

  Warren grabbed a beach ball from a basket on the floor and tossed it into the tank. “Everyone seems concerned about Mario and Bianca. But you won’t find them here, that’s for sure. We get all of our mammals through reputable sources. Supposedly some kid saw the sea lion pups being stolen. If that’s the case, the thief will probably sell them on the black market.”

  “Where?” Alex asked as she watched the seals playing.

  “ ‘Black market’ means selling something illegally,” Warren explained as he walked to the far side of the tank and leaned on the edge.

  McKenzie thought about that for a moment. “Why would anyone want to steal a sea lion and sell it?”

  Warren shrugged his shoulders and glanced at his watch. “It’s hard to tell. Maybe some kind of collection. Twin sea lions are rare.”

  “What happens to the animals that are trained here?” McKenzie asked, watching the seals swim toward the beach ball.

  “We only train animals we’re going to use in our shows,” Warren said. “We’re planning to add these two seals to our main attraction.”

  “Are your trainers working with any sea lions right now?” McKenzie asked hopefully.

  “No. We’re concentrating on these two seals,” Warren said. “Training is a lot of hard work.”

  McKenzie frowned. She watched Alex film the seals playing with the ball. This isn’t what I was hoping to find out. I really thought I would find Mario and Bianca in here. But all they have are seals, she thought with dismay. Maybe the Frankses aren’t the thieves, after all.

  The seals flung their upper bodies from the water and popped the ball into the air. When it plopped back into the tank, they scooted it around and
around. One seal came up beneath it and flung it in an arch toward the girls. McKenzie reached out her arms and caught it, showering Alex with a spray of water.

  “Toss it back in,” Warren said with a laugh.

  The girls watched in amazement as the seals played with the ball. They were so absorbed in the show that they didn’t notice anyone had arrived. Then a man called out. “Okay, Warren, I’ll take over now.”

  McKenzie turned. Mel Franks stood in the doorway. Beside him stood a young woman with straight brown hair, wearing a khaki-colored fishing cap pulled low over her forehead. She disappeared through a door that looked like it led into a storeroom.

  She looks familiar. McKenzie’s stomach began to churn.

  “Hey, Mr. Franks, I didn’t know you were here,” Warren said with surprise. “I’m giving these girls a behind-the-scenes tour. They said Colby arranged it. Do you know anything about it?”

  “Of course,” Mr. Franks said, smiling at the girls. “I’m glad we could accommodate you so quickly. Do you have any questions? We need to get busy with our training in here.”

  “I thought training was over for the day,” Warren said with a confused look.

  “These seals need more work,” Mr. Franks said with an annoyed tone. “Why don’t you head back to the lobby, Warren? We’ll take over from here.”

  “Well, sure,” Warren said, surprised. “I’ll leave the girls to you then. We were just starting the tour. This was our first stop.”

  The girls thanked Warren and watched him head out the door. McKenzie suddenly had a funny feeling. Was that girl his daughter, Nina? she wondered. She does kind of look like Mrs. Franks.

  Mr. Franks ignored the girls. He reached into the tank and retrieved the ball. He tossed it into the large basket against the wall.

  “Did Warren answer all your questions?” Mr. Franks asked, turning to the girls.

  McKenzie thought for a moment, then spoke. “I thought for sure we had found the missing sea lion pups when we first came in here. These seals look so much like them.”

  Mr. Franks’ tone of voice softened. “Seals and sea lions can easily be confused. Like I told you the other day, killer whales probably got the pups. You should probably give up on ever seeing them again. It’s just one of those things.”