Page 81 of A Very Happy Easter

My breathing sped up, sending my pulse into a wild gallop along with it. Then I saw Heath’s silhouette on the balcony.

“What was that noise?” I asked, frozen to the spot. The words came out quieter than I’d intended, almost a whisper, and the ringing in my ears nearly eclipsed them.

Heath was by my side in an instant. “Everything’s fine, Edie.”

“Then what…?”

“I think it’s a manicou.”

“A what?”

He guided me out to the balcony and pointed downwards. “That’s what they call opossums here.”

In the watery light of the moon, I followed his gaze and spotted a pale creature snuffling around on the terrace.

“Is it…is it dangerous?”

“Nope, the opposite—they’re nature’s cleanup crew. Scavengers. They eat insects, snakes, roadkill, rubbish, ticks, and the papaya you didn’t finish for dessert earlier.”

A closer look, and I saw the plate smashed by the table. “Dammit.”

“I’ll sweep it up in the morning.”

“Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for. It’s just a plate.”

“I meant sorry that the noise disturbed you.”

“I was already awake.”

“You couldn’t sleep either?”

He blew out a long breath and turned to the sea. “Sometimes, it’s harder to be on the sidelines than in the middle of the fight.”

“The thing on Valentine Cay? You’re worried about your colleagues?”

A woman had gone missing, I knew that much, and Blackwood was looking for her along with the San Gallicano police. Nobody seemed to have much faith in the locals.

“‘Worried’ is the wrong word. They can take care of themselves. It’s more that…that I feel guilty for not being able to do more.”

“So you want to go to Valentine Cay?”

“Yes, but I want to be here more.” Heath squeezed my hand. “That wasn’t a dig at you.”

I squeezed back. “I’ll understand if you want to go. In the time since I’ve met you, I’ve realised how much you love the thrill of the chase. After three days of photographing cheating spouses, you’re bored out of your mind.”

“That’s true. Would you be upset if I went?”

“Not upset, more nervous. But I’d also be happy that you were doing something that challenged you.” I pressed my lips together for a second as old emotions welled up. “I know how it feels to have your wings clipped.”

Heath wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on my shoulder, both of us looking out across the bay.

“I want you to fly again,” he whispered.

“With you, I did. Halfway around the world, in fact.”

“The current plan is that I’ll stay on Sasurra with you—the others have the Valentine Cay situation handled.”