Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter thirty-one of "Ride the Wind II: Justice Unbound." I didn't mean to take more than a week to get it out. I had a bad case of writer's block. This is actually the first time in three years since I had taken more than a week to get a new chapter of a fic out. That was when I finished "Ride the Wind." I say that is impressive. This chapter features the results of the DNA test regarding Lilli and Isabella's blood samples. Stay tuned for chapter thirty-two.

xxxxx

Chapter 31: Getting the DNA Results

The midmorning sun beamed its rays on the Hanks rental house the next day. Three American robins flew around in a playful chase. Their chirps echoed through the air. They flew past a young man as he jogged past the house. He went past three more before stopping in front of one. He stretched his arms above his head. He did the same behind his back. He did each of his sides twice. He resumed jogging and yawned.

Randolph sipped black coffee from a mug as he sat at the table in the kitchen. He was looking through a picture album. His IPhone lay nearby. He focused his attention on Isabella surfacing with Willy doing a bow behind her at the top of the second page. Max and Ben were doing beaches in the background. He put his coffee down.

Randolph propped his head up with his elbow. He didn't wake up as early as he did yesterday morning. He tried to go back to sleep, but he couldn't. He decided to get up and fix himself some coffee. He thought looking through a picture album wouldn't hurt. He was glad he and his friends had a nice visit from Aiden and Kylie. In fact, it was ten-thirty before Nadine's parents went home. Of course, Nancy had gone to bed long before then.

His thoughts drifted to Lilli. He hoped her medical examination would go well. He prayed that Brenda wouldn't do anything that would make anyone suspicious. He and his friends couldn't risk her losing her job because they considered her the key to bringing Dial down once and for all. They believed she would help them once it was proven Lilli and Isabella were the same orca. They wanted him behind bars so badly that they could taste it.

He started thinking about the DNA test. He hoped Annette Rogers would call and give the results very soon. He was so anxious to know the truth. He had no doubt his friends felt the same way, especially Jesse. Of everyone in their group, he considered Jesse to be the closest to the Southern Resident orcas. He remembered when his friend vowed that he would do everything he could to protect them. He voiced his support in the young man's endeavor, as did everyone else.

He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Bryan Adams's Cuts Like a Knife playing. He looked over at his IPhone and grabbed it. He turned it on in which he saw Annette and her number of 360-889-4507. He sighed in much relief. He hoped she had the results of the DNA. He was so eager to hear what she had to say. He touched her name and placed it to his ear.

"Hello?" Randolph asked.

"Hey, Randolph," Annette greeted with much warmth. "How are you doing this morning?"

"I am doing fine," Randolph admitted as he ran his finger along the rim of his mug. "I am having my first cup of coffee. What about you?"

"I am taking my break," Annette commented and cleared her throat. "I came in at six o'clock this morning. Early mornings are such a hassle. I have to get up at four-thirty, so I can have coffee and eat breakfast. Then I have to get ready."

"I am lucky I don't have to get up that early. Of course, there are mornings where I do wake up early and can't go back to sleep. I fix myself a cup of coffee and look through picture albums," Randolph explained.

"Are you doing that right now?" Annette wondered with much curiosity.

"Yes, I am," Randolph answered, looking toward the third page. He gazed at a picture of Isabella holding a small salmon in her mouth at the bottom of it. "I see a picture of Isabella with a salmon in her mouth. She looks quite proud of catching it. It was taken a month before her disappearance."

"The Southern Resident orcas work so hard to find food. Unfortunately, so many factors are keeping them from finding enough to eat," Annette whispered, sadness showing in her voice.

"The salmon runs were a little better this year. The orcas may be able to fatten up and be able to breed," Randolph said hopefully.

"I really hope so," Annette commented and sniffled. "They've had too many deaths in a short amount of time."

"So true," Randolph agreed. "Though four births brought hope to the population last year, more babies need to be born. Many need to be female, so we have potential future mothers."

"I know," Annette said, sighing heavily. "Why is it always that this population experiences a rebound one year and goes down sharply the next?"

"It doesn't seem fair, but we have to keep fighting to save them," Randolph said in determination. "They are depending on us."

"You are so right," Annette replied. "If we don't fight to save them, who will?"

He picked up his coffee to take a long sip. He smacked his lips before laying it down. He closed the album and put it aside. He propped his head up with his elbow.

"I want to tell you that I have the results of the DNA test you requested yesterday," she announced.

"That's great," he said happily. "I was hoping it would be sometime this morning."

"It wouldn't have mattered if I had gotten the results this morning or this afternoon," Anette said and snorted. "I'm just glad to have them."

"I'm glad you do," Randolph commented and sighed in much relief. "Now, I would like to hear what you found regarding Isabella and Lilli's DNA profiles."

"I don't know how to tell you this, but—" Annette said, becoming unsure if she could continue.

Randolph became concerned. "What? What are you trying to say?"

"Lilli and Isabella's DNA profiles—" Annette started and emitted a quiet shudder. "They are—"

"Come on, Annette," Randolph responded a little impatiently. He laid his hands on the table. "Spit it out."

Annette took a deep breath. "Lilli and Isabella's DNA profiles are a perfect match. They are the same orca."

Randolph choked back a sob. He was so relieved to know he had been right about Lilli all along. He expressed some anger toward Dial for illegally obtaining a protected animal. He had no doubt the orca had been calling out to J-Pod in the bay at night. He knew she would want to hear their calls because it gave her a sense of peace.

"Dial has broken the law once again," Annette said bitterly.

"He won't get away with it this time," Randolph answered in a fierce voice. "We plan to ask Brenda to help us bust him by wearing a wiretap after I call her to tell her the results."

"Don't be surprised if she is reluctant to help you," Annette warned sternly.

"We won't blame her if she is," Randolph said honestly. "She doesn't want to lose her job. She is also worried that Isabella will suffer depression if she is separated from her."

"When a cetacean gets used to a captive situation, it can be difficult to reintroduce them into the wild," Anette commented truthfully.

"Let's not forget Isabella bonded with Jane and Izzy. Unlike her father, she wasn't completely alone," Randolph pointed out.

"Dial had the decency to give her companions," Annette said and spoke gibberish. "Still, he removed her from her pod illegally. He took away ten months of her freedom."

"Willy lost a year of freedom. He will never get that back," Randolph mumbled bitterly. "Isabella will never get back those ten months of stolen freedom either."

"Isabella must have realized she needed to do what humans told her if she were to survive. She bonded with Brenda, Jane, and Izzy. She became a performer," Annette explained.

"Isabella seemed to enjoy performing for the public. Still, it doesn't change the fact she missed her family," Randolph commented, running his finger up and down the side of the mug.

"That she did," Annette agreed.

He grabbed his coffee to take a long sip. He put it down before letting out a soft sigh. He heard her yawn and smack her lips.

"So, where will Isabella be kept during her reintroduction into the wild?" she asked.

"Isabella will be held in a netted-off area of the Rubbing Rocks. Jesse and I plan to help with the reintroduction. I feel she will greatly benefit from our presence," he explained.

"I say that is a good idea," Annette said with much warmth. "She knows you two so well."

"I can't argue with that," Randolph agreed, a small chuckle leaving his mouth. He became serious very quickly. "I know that Isabella won't like being netted in the cove."

"That is true. At the same time, you do what you have to do," Annette replied and let out a shuddering breath. "I won't be surprised if Isabella shows reluctance in going into a sling."

He sighed heavily. "Me neither. She would remember it as something bad."

"Will you and Jesse supervise Isabella's being put into a sling?" Annette wondered.

"Oh, we will," Randolph commented very eagerly. "In fact, Jesse said he would get into the water and coax Isabella into the sling if she won't go in."

"He took a big risk doing that with Willy, but he had to. Willy would've died if he hadn't done that," Annette said seriously.

"Jesse is the bravest person I have ever known," Randolph said matter-of-factly. "His bravery helped Willy, Luna, and Littlespot get to safety. It aided us in saving Willy, Nikki, and the rest of J-Pod from whalers."

"I can see some of his bravery in his little girl," Annette said sweetly.

"I can too," Randolph agreed with a soft laugh.

She blew softly. "It astounds me how many parents hover over their children constantly. They won't give them any room to breathe."

"Those children develop a sense of entitlement. They think the world should take care of them. The reality is the world doesn't care about them. Nothing is free in life," Randolph said in much bluntness.

"Many come to realize that is true. Others never accept it," Annette muttered in some bitterness.

"Yeah," Randolph muttered and cleared his throat. "Anyway, thank you so much for giving me the results of the DNA test. I really appreciate it."

"You are welcome," Annette replied and yawned. "Good luck with Isabella's reintroduction into the wild."

Randolph smiled. "Thanks. Bye."

Annette let out a soft snort. "Bye."

Randolph heard a click and took his IPhone off his ear. He couldn't wait to call Brenda and tell her about the DNA results. However, he had a hunch she was giving Lilli her medical examination. He decided he would wait until she was having lunch. He grabbed his coffee to drink more of it.