[ WP ] In an underwater race of humans , instead of K-9 handlers , their military and police units have Dolphin handlers .

`` How long has she been missing?'' I demanded. The officer I was talking to shrugged. 
 
 `` Maybe a day. She was on her way to the Atlantic. Her roommate said it was to visit family. She never made it.'' 
 
 `` Damn! You think we could still pick up a taste trail?'' I asked, pinching the bridge of my nose. 
 
 `` It's possible. We do n't know how long ago she went missing, so the trail could easily not be found. Might as well try though.'' 
 
 `` Okay, get me something of hers. Quick, we do n't have time!'' I ordered. The officer swam off. I looked through the files I had about this case while waiting, but in a short time, he was back. 
 
 `` It's lucky she lived so close. The roommate gave me a scrap of fabric from her.'' He handed me a scrap of green cloth. I held it closer, squinting at it. 
 
 `` This is some really nice fabric. It's hard to believe such a low-risk victim could get taken like that,'' I sighed. `` Get the K-9 unit here.'' 
 
 `` They're already on site. We called them as soon as we got the report.'' 
 
 `` Good,'' I nodded. I swam out of the station, and found a group of officers holding the leashes of four dolphins. 
 
 `` See if they can pick up a taste,'' I said to one of them, holding out the fabric. He took it from me and held it in front of his dolphins mouth. The creature's tongue slithered out and tasted the fabric, as did the three others. They began tugging at the leashes. 
 
 `` I'm coming with you,'' I stated, as the Dolphins and their handlers started off. 
 
 `` Alright, but I hope you can swim fast enough to keep up,'' a short female handler told me. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she stopped resisting her dolphin, and let him lead the way. 
 
 My tail got tired after a half hour of fast swimming, but I refused to give up. We had a missing girl out there, and she needed my help. 
 
 `` Trail runs cold,'' the same female handler as before told me, as the Dolphins suddenly halted. I groaned. 
 
 `` Anything around here maybe?'' she suggested. `` Trails do n't just suddenly cut off like that.'' 
 
 `` We can have a look around. We need forensics out here though. If we find a trace of DNA, I do n't want to wait too long for them.'' 
 
 And so our hunt continued. The handlers led the dolphins around for longer, hoping they could find something else. A high pitched squeak let me know that this had worked. I glanced over to the dolphin making the noise, and swam towards him. 
 
 `` There's something under that rock.'' I looked at the heavy boulder. 
 
 `` Help me out here, would you?'' I called to all the handlers. They rushed over and we pushed at the boulder. It slowly came dislodged, and we could hear the soft whimpers of someone underneath it. 
 
 The water filling the cavern under the boulder was hazy with blood. 
 
 `` Oh god,'' I whispered. The girl we were looking for was sprawled on the sand, deep cuts on her abdomen and tail bleeding freely. 
 
 `` We need a medic!'' I screamed. The next few hours were a blur of people rushing in and out, transporting the girl, trying to save her. I could do nothing but stand there and try to seem helpful. 
 
 The same short female handler whom I had talked to previously came up to me, her dolphin following close behind. 
 
 `` Thank you,'' I muttered. `` A young girl's life was saved today because of your dolphin.'' I looked down at the creature, and I could swear he smiled back. 
 
 `` Now if only he could find the son of a bitch who did this, I would officially announce him to be lead of my department...''
