Ken Brooks shaded his eyes as he scanned the beach. The summer sun in Florida was powerfully bright, but after five years of living of school in the Windy City, he was glad for the heat. He'd just finished Masters in Education and would be starting his first full-time teaching job this fall at a high school back in Chicago.
But before he set up semi-permanent residence there, he'd decided to come spend several weeks house-sitting for his grandparents. They were fond of taking cruise ships and so they'd offered up their house to him while he was away. "Come out, get some sun, swim in the ocean! You'll have a blast!" they'd said, so how could he refuse.
He had been taking their advice. After a couple weeks, his natural complexion had acquired a bit of a tan and his sandy blond hair was a couple shades lighter. Though he swam regularly in the college pool, it was nice to swim in the ocean as well.
Plus, the college pool didn't have tons of college co-eds enjoying their summer break. He hadn't started dating anyone just yet, but he was enjoying flirting with girls in bikinis.
As he headed down to the beach for his morning swim, though, a few dozen yards from shore, he saw a frenzied splashing. Was someone in trouble?
