Page 81 of Bay of Plenty

Aroha dropped me at the back of the rugby clubrooms. I told her I wanted to clean up before finding my boyfriend, so mum was the word. Aroha gave a half-smile, like she knew something was up.

Mahana said pityingly, “Good luck with your ‘boyfriend.’”

Inside, I sent the text and voice memo to Declan. The phone went dead. God, stupid, I’d left it on. I jabbed my phone charger into the wall. No power.The electricity’s been turned off to prevent fires.I powered it up with my portable battery pack.I have to send Declan everything on Sarge.

From my position crouched at the side of the window, I could see Aroha had found an official, a woman in a bright-pink safety vest, and was pointing to the clubrooms, clearly talking about me. Safety Vest Woman acted like she had better things to worry about, but it was only a matter of time before someone overheard Aroha, and I was ambushed. Even if I wasn’t the police’s priority, Sarge would make sure I didn’t leave. The only solution was to find someone to fly me back to the beach.

I scanned the green rugby fields, pressed against the sideof the window to stay out of sight. Families were matched with their billets, passing around tea, biscuits, and cakes, bumped by kids chasing each other. It felt more like a carnival than a state of emergency.

I spotted Mum and Dad about a quarter of the way down the field.Phew.Mum was chatting happily to Kui, Bevan, Rina, and Rosemary. Dad sat relaxed in a folding chair beside them. Nearby, Snow and CeeCee chatted with surf friends. Janey’s dad hovered awkwardly behind CeeCee. Maybe he sensed that Mum and Kui had a question mark over his head—had the police shown him Janey’s diary?

Instead of hanging with Dad where he’d normally be, Sarge was seated, knee braced and propped up, walking stick in hand. He had positioned himself under the goalpost beside five police officers, ranting stridently about something.

There he was, part of Snow’s group: Declan. My heart lurched. I’d missed him during the twenty-four hours I was away. He had his shirt untucked, sleeves rolled up, focused on who was speaking.

The clock was ticking.Give me this one minute to take him in.

The sight of him was like coming home. I wanted to palm his face, feel the solace and the warmth. He’d shown me again and again he was there for me and my parents. That I could offload my worries onto his strong, wide shoulders.

As if he knew I was near, he slid his phone from his pocket, crossed his arms, and watched the screen as I typed.

Me:I’m back, hiding in the clubrooms. How r u and Mum and Dad? Missed you all. Sent you a voice memo. I believe Janey is buried in the campground. Snow is the link. Heroin might be hidden on Motu. Need helicopter and pilot to flyback to Ohope.

His phone burst into light in his hand. I blushed as though his palm had gripped my waist. He read my text, pointedly looking away from the clubrooms. Holding his phone to the group, he mouthed,My sister. Dialing, he strode off to the right-hand goalpost, a field away from Sarge and the police officers.

“Hey,” he said when I answered. His voice was low and urgent, a soothing balm for the rattling fear and stress inside my chest. My body ached for his arms to fold me into him. The yearning opened a secret door in me, releasing a thought that I didn’t have a second to examine. I loved him. I was in love with him. I couldn’t imagine a future without him in it. Head down, he kicked at the grass. “I’m so glad you’re back. Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I said.

He smiled, wide and happy, his thumb running along his bottom lip.My favorite smile.

I wriggled, suddenly self-conscious, as if I’d said it out loud. We both knew I was watching him. “How are you and Mum and Dad?”

“Your dad is coping well. There’s a doctor on-site checking his vitals every hour.” He kicked at the goalpost. “I haven’t had time to listen to your voice memo, but whatever you do, stay where you are. Sarge is keen to track you down.”

I told him about Sarge attacking me in Te Urewera. And that Declan would receive the recordings soon.God, I hope they send.

“What the fuck,” he spat out, furious. “Did he hurt you?”

“They’re only scrapes, but I caused some damage to Sarge’s left knee. Look at him making a face as he stretches his leg.”

“That explains the brace and the stick,” Declan said.

“We haven’t got much time. Even if no one seems tobelieve the eruption’s hitting at seven, it has to be our deadline,” I said. “An eruption. God, that means Mum and Dad’s house is going to be decimated. They’re going to be devastated.” My stomach hollowed out. I pulled myself back. “I need to locate a helicopter and pilot to fly to Motu and find the heroin.”

“We’ll both go.”

“But someone needs to stay here and watch Snow and Sarge.”

“Isla.” He rubbed his shirt over his heart. His voice was low and husky. “I don’t want you to go off on your own again.”

I melted at his concern. “Look, it’ll take two hours, tops. We can’t afford to lose this evidence to a tidal wave.”But still, we might lose evidence of Janey’s murder.

Eventually, he said, “Okay, okay.”

“Between them, Mum, Bevan, and Kui might know of a discreet pilot who can handle danger,” I said. “I’ll text them without telling them what happened.”

The women met each other’s eyes, made excuses, and wandered off separately, so as not to raise the alarm with Rosemary or Dad.

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