Arthur sat in the silence of the open water for a long time, watching the dark shapes vanish into the fog. He felt a strange, hollow relief as he steered the boat back to the slip. He had just finished tying his lines when he saw the same patrol car idling by the harbor office. The two officers stepped out, but this time they were jogging toward him, looking energized.
“Arthur! Glad we caught you,” the younger officer called out, waving him over. “We were back at the station telling the story to the desk sergeant—the part about the smell and the way it melted. He’s an old-timer who grew up on the coast, and he thinks he knows exactly what you found.” Arthur wiped a hand over his tired face. “It doesn’t matter,” he muttered.
“It was just a mess. I already took care of it.”