Fifteen tense minutes later, the marina came into view—bright orange rescue boats bobbing near the breakwater. As Sea Glass powered in, the orca circled once, dorsal fin slicing a wide, final arc. Then it turned and slipped away, fading into open water.
John cut the throttle and started waving and screaming for help frantically. A dockhand sprinted toward them. Paramedics arrived fast, lifting Catherine into a stretcher. John followed close, wetsuit half-off, still dripping, salt crusted in his eyebrows.