Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter forty-five of "Ride the Wind II: Justice Unbound." I am glad it took just a week to get out. A reviewer asked if I would have Isabella leap to freedom like Willy did. I won't tell you if she will or not. You will have to find out for yourselves. This crossover has two chapters to go before it reaches its end. Stay tuned for chapter forty-six.

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Chapter 45: Greedy Men Coming

Dial drove his car down another rural road. Harry had his head propped up by his elbow on the door. They were followed by three more cars and a truck. The truck contained sixty-year-old Darren Mathers, who was Dial's longtime friend. It happened to be a red Chevy. It looked new with the exception of scratches along the bottom on both sides. Both doors on the driver's side contained tiny dents in their middles. The front of the hood was damaged due to a parking mishap.

Darren ran his hand over his face. He was Caucasian and was around Dial's height. He supported a lean frame. His skin was so pale that he appeared to be a ghost. His head had no hair, except for a brown goatee. His face had so many wrinkles that someone could draw a map on it. He let out a long yawn and smacked his lips.

Dial drove his car somewhat faster in which the other drivers mimicked him. Harry removed his arm from the door with a soft sigh. He looked out his window, seeing cows graze in a field surrounded by barbed wire fencing. One cow lifted its head and emitted a loud moo. Another twitched its ears and tail. One more walked around, stopping at a patch of grass. It proceeded to graze. Dial glanced toward them while raising his eyebrows. He moved his hands to the sides of the steering wheel.

"Talk about pretty cows," Harry whispered and yawned somewhat.

"You said it," Dial agreed as his partner turned to him. He shifted his attention to the road. "I bet I could make lots of money farming, especially when it comes to certain crops."

"It's not easy caring for crops and livestock, even on a small farm," Harry pointed out matter-of-factly.

"It's not, but I live for a challenge," Dial admitted, chuckling to himself. "If you don't challenge yourself, how can you get through life?"

"Not very far," Harry said while snapping his fingers.

"Exactly," Dial commented and spoke gibberish. "So many people are weak. They quit when things get hard."

"Their parents coddled them. They did everything in their power to shield them from failure," Harry grumbled with a roll of his eyes. "Failure is part of success. You may have to fail many times before you succeed at something."

"My first business was a restaurant. It made money for two years before a new one opened across the street. It took all my customers. I was forced to file for bankruptcy," Dial explained with a shrug. "Most businesses fail within their first few years."

"Then your mother died and left you three hundred thousand dollars in her will. You used it to start Northwest Adventure Park. It was a huge success. You tried to boost business with Willy, but it didn't work out," Harry said and rubbed his nose.

"After Willy was gone, I had the tank expanded. I got four bottlenose dolphins. They drove up revenue. Then I got another orca and sold two of the dolphins for her," Dial said and clicked his tongue. "She drove up revenue even more."

"It's been great," Harry replied and frowned quite a bit. "Unfortunately, Jesse decided to free Lilli. Elvis, Brenda, Andros, Ashley, Zhane, and Karone helped him get her out of the tank."

Dial growled in much anger and clenched his teeth. He flared his nostrils three times. He tightened his grip on the wheel so tightly that it seemed he was about ready to pull it off.

"The thieves will pay for stealing from me," Dial said in much determination and ferocity. He mumbled obscenities in Spanish. "The worst part about this whole thing is Brenda betrayed me. I didn't think she would do such a thing."

"You are right that Brenda is no better than Rae," Harry commented and snorted. "I bet she would've tried to pull it off herself if she began to believe Lilli was sad and pining for freedom."

Dial huffed. "That bitch has always been a bigmouth. She was always after us about expanding the tank."

"Like Rae was with you and Wade," Harry said and cleared his throat.

"Exactly," Dial growled with a sharp nod. "After we get Lilli back, I am firing Brenda and her friends. I will hire trainers who will be obedient to me without question."

"You deserve such employees," Harry said, a smirk forming on his face. "The best part will be Jesse, Elvis, Brenda, Andros, Ashley, Zhane, and Karone sitting in jail for years."

"Yeah," Dial responded excitedly. He clenched his teeth so tightly that it seemed they appeared ready to break. "I will make sure no one will steal Lilli again."

"Downgrading security was a mistake," Harry muttered regretfully and turned very tense. He acted as if he were spitting at the floor. He grabbed fistfuls of hair. He mumbled inaudible words. "That made it easier for the thieves to sneak in and steal Lilli."

"It doesn't matter now. We won't make that same mistake again," Dial answered in much fierceness.

Harry chuckled while laying his hands in his lap. "No, we won't. Once the thieves get out of jail, they will have a very difficult time finding jobs. Employers don't look kindly on felons."

Dial returned his hands to the top of the wheel. He tapped them against it while singing nonsense. He became quiet at the sound of his receiver crackling with static. He looked at it with much curiosity.

"Dial, do you read me? This is Darren, over!" Darren said.

Dial adjusted the frequency a little bit. He grabbed the receiver and put it up to his mouth. He pressed the button as Harry eyed the receiver. Harry cupped his chin in his hand.

"Hey, Darren. What's up?" Dial asked and suppressed a yawn.

"I just wanted to talk you," Darren answered and chuckled softly. "I hope that is okay."

Dial smiled in much warmth. "It's fine, Darren. I was getting bored talking to Harry, anyway."

Harry gasped in fake offense. "Hey!"

Dial waved his partner off with the receiver while shifting his position in his seat somewhat. He received a laugh from him. He returned the receiver to his mouth before running his tongue all over the inside of it.

"How are you doing back there?" Dial wondered very curiously.

"I am doing pretty good," Darren admitted calmly. "I've been saying the word cow every time I see one."

"I see," Dial responded and let out a long exhale. He wondered how many times his friend had said that word. He had a hunch he wouldn't get an answer from him. Then again, he would love to hear the closest number the man could think of. "Anyway, we should be nearing the next turn soon."

"That's good," Darren said happily and hit his hand on his wheel. "I am so eager to see Lilli recaptured and returned to her tank."

"Harry and I feel the same way," Dial commented while flaring his nostrils twice. "We were fools to downgrade security. You can bet we won't do that again."

"Everyone makes stupid mistakes, boss," Darren said comfortingly. "I've made some myself."

"Who hasn't?" Dial said with a shrug. "Back to Lilli, I am thinking of sending Jane and Izzy to the Rockford Aquarium in exchange for Ian after we get her back. It would allow me to get him faster."

"I agree, sir," Darren said, laughing delightfully.

"So do I," Harry added in much eagerness.

"I heard you, Harry," Darren answered and clicked his tongue four times. "I can't wait to see Ian and Lilli make babies."

"Neither can Harry and I," Dial said, his voice showing excitement. He spotted a road coming into view on his left. "I need to let you go. The turn is right here."

"That is great, sir," Darren shouted. "I will talk to you later. Over and out."

Dial heard the receiver crackle with static once more. He took his finger off the button and returned it to its holder. He and the other drivers pushed their blinker bars down. The left blinkers began flashing. The drivers made left turns one after the other. They pushed the bars up, the blinkers ceasing their flashing. Harry tried to hold back a chuckle, but he couldn't help himself.

"We are just one road closer to Jackson Marina," Harry said in much excitement. "That is the next best place the thieves would take Lilli. It is the same size as Dawson's Marina."

"The other marinas are of similar size, but their water is deeper. Dawson's Marina and Jackson Marina have the same depth of twenty feet. The nets will touch bottom and close Lilli in," Dial said, an evil smirk crossing his lips. "She won't be able to escape."

Harry chuckled sinisterly. "I can't wait to see her hauled back onto a trailer to be taken back to the park and the thieves arrested."

Dial nodded sharply. "Oh, yes."

Dial emitted a loud snort and suppressed a yawn. He drove a little faster. Darren and the other drivers followed suit.