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“I have to call my parents first.” My stomach tightened. That conversation was going to be tough. We talked on the phone, but I hadn’t been home for a long time, and the truth was, we had a surface, quite strained relationship.

Shay nodded, relieved.

Declan let out a breath. “I can see why you’d want to do that, but please don’t.

” His voice was steady. “Your parents will almost certainly tell others, which will completely blow our investigation. We will be forced to prematurely alert Interpol and the New Zealand Police to coordinate arrests of those we know are involved so far, including your parents, and bring them in for questioning.” He paused.

“That would pretty much shut down the whole operation, and believe me, it won’t help your parents’ case or their safety.

I reached out to you because you’re a journalist, and I hoped you’d understand how these things operate. ”

“But your goal is not to clear my parents of any wrongdoing. Why would I help you arrest my parents?”

He was silent for a moment. “That’s a good question.

I can’t change the facts of the case, and I can’t promise to give your parents immunity, but your cooperation is a positive way to help your parents.

Our goal is to locate the drugs, link them to the trafficking chain, bring in the drugs, and stop the trafficking.

If you can help us identify the people working the chain, we can eliminate your parents. ”

I felt sick to my stomach. I had to help him identify the people working a drug chain. It seemed a vast and overwhelming task. How was it even possible? Where would we even start? I thought about the most factual question I could ask him.

“What’s my parents’ potential liability?”

He took a deep breath. “Prison time. Multiple years. An unlimited fine.”

I let out a tortured sound. The room went white, bleached into that one cry of wordless panic.

“My parents in prison? No, no, no. I could never let that happen.” My mind was spinning.

But wait. Was this guy for real? He knew where we lived.

Was he watching us now? I looked through our living room window up to the sidewalk.

No one on the street. For the sake of Shay, Bato, and myself, I had to make sure he wasn’t a crackpot or dangerous.

“I need to confirm your identity,” I said.

“Yes, of course. I’m sending you a link now to speak with my boss. It’s like Zoom but part of the NCA system. My boss’s name is Daphne Lusinia. You’ll find her photo and bio on the NCA website link I’m sending you as well. She’ll be waiting for your call.”

I grabbed my laptop and clicked into my emails. “Okay, got both.”

Teddy snuggled into me, his eyes peeled to my face, as if he could feel the tension. As Shay watched, making sure she was off-screen, I clicked on the link. Declan’s boss, a serious woman with a gray bob, appeared on the screen, backlit by a huge gold, red, and blue NCA coat of arms.

She introduced herself and looked me in the eye.

“Declan’s already told you that your parents are involved in drug trafficking.

Declan, whom you’ve met, is very experienced and successful.

There is—” She hesitated. Was there something else she wanted to add?

“Anyway, I’m going to share a recent newspaper article about one of his busts. He’s not named, of course.”

$100 Million Drug Haul on Luxury Cruise Ship Headed to London, Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana, read the headline. It was a huge operation that spanned three countries.

“Is this case as big? The same drugs?” My hands clenched into fists. I wanted to reach out for Shay, but I didn’t want to let the boss know someone else was with me.

“I understand Declan’s already told you we can’t share further information without your official agreement to work with us.”

“I need to think this through.” I squeezed my forehead. “It’s been a huge shock.”

“That’s understandable. Declan will contact you in one hour. Remember, this is a sensitive situation. We want to ensure everyone’s safety. We are going to need your cooperation to make that happen.”

I rang off. Pacing around the flat, Teddy at my heels, I asked Shay, “How on earth are they involved? Has someone sucked them in with a lie?”

Shay shook her head, dumbfounded.

My phone vibrated, snatching me back to reality. Mum’s cell phone number.

I touched the jagged-edged stone in my pocket, my constant companion, my talisman, reminding me to be strong and maintain a single-minded focus.

“Mum?” I asked. “Are you there?” Nothing. “Mum?” I repeated. I waited for the background noises—the insistent call of the tūī bird, the rattle of the summer heat, the opposite season to us.

Still nothing. Maybe the call had dropped? Was that her breathing? An announcement over a loudspeaker: “Dr. Gilbert, please come to the ER.”

The clock over our fireplace ticked. Eleven o’clock. It was midnight in New Zealand . Mum and Dad never stayed up that late.

“Mum, what’s going on?” I asked louder. “Are you there?”

My eyes met Shay’s, and my gut took a swift, scared drop.

“I’m at the hospital.” Finally, Mum’s voice on the other end. “Your dad had a heart attack. You have to come home.”

My heart stopped. “What? Dad? But he’s so strong, so healthy . ”

My skin blazed through the rest of the conversation—a blur of facts and figures about what the doctor said, with Mum’s best friend, Rosemary, in the background, prompting her. While I listened, Shay used my credit card to book a flight, departing in four hours.

After ringing off, I called Declan. He didn’t pick up, so I left a voicemail.

“It’s Isla Joyson here. I’ve decided that working with you is the best way I can help my parents prove their innocence.

I’m willing to cooperate if you are willing to share what you can.

I’ve just heard my dad’s had a serious heart attack.

I’m flying back. I’ll call you from the airport and get the contract signed. ” I shoved my phone back into my bag.

I was going home.

The thought of returning filled me with nausea. It was the last place on earth I wanted to go. The hard sun, the relentless sea… the people who never accepted me.

I raced for my bathroom and heaved. The dread rushing through my body forced everything up. Out it tumbled—all the drinks from last night and breakfast from this morning.

Funding drug trafficking.

My dad’s heart attack.

What the hell is happening?