Page 47 of The Forbidden Fling

Under her feet, the cheap linoleum was bubbling and curling at the corners, and its black shade was dotted with flakes of mint-green paint that had peeled from the walls.

Riley stopped in front of a door marked 26B. “Anyway, this is your little gal, right here.”

Faye peeked inside. The parakeet was resting in the corner, her little green chest rising and falling, her wing strapped to her side with a clean, white bandage. “Has she broken it?”

“Luckily not. The vet said it was just a sprain. With some rest, she should be back to normal in no time.”

Faye straightened up, noting the rows of other parakeets in similar conditions. “What’s going on here, Riley?”

Riley’s expression soured as she followed Faye’s gaze. “There’s been an uptick in admissions the last few months. Parakeets especially. Pink Polari ones even more so.”

“Poaching?”

“I’m worried that it’s getting worse. People want the next hot thing as pets. Pink Polaris’ colourful crowns seem to be it. But they don’t understand how damaging and cruel these poachers are to these birds.”

“Do you have CCTV?”

“Only at the main resort and the ports. Duarte monitors who comes to and from the island, but we don’t have a lot of control over private boats mooring out of sight. The locals are aware of it, but without help from the government, I’m not sure what to do.”

“Let me help.”

“I can’t ask you to do that. You’re a guest here.”

“It can be part of my rehabilitation. A trial run for getting other people involved.”

Riley smiled, but it didn’t touch her eyes. “The course is all about you focusing on you, Faye. I’m not going to encourage any distractions from that.”

“This is part of what I do, Riley. Please, let me help.”

“I appreciate the offer. I really do, but I can’t accept it.”

The doorbell jingled, and a happy voice called out, “Did someone ask for a delivery?”

Carla and another man stood in the doorway, two heaped boxes in their arms. Carla grinned when she spotted Faye. “Ay! The dog’s bollocks. What are you doing here?”

Faye couldn’t help grinning back. “Just visiting. You?”

“Just delivering. People, supplies, food. I do it all.”

Catarina rushed in to collect the boxes, mumbling something under her breath which Faye couldn’t understand. The man gave her a kiss on the cheek and then followed her and Riley into the office, fast Portuguese flowing between them. Faye just caught “late” and “always”.

Some good that Duolingo was.

Carla waved a hand. “Catarina and Bruno are like an old married couple.” She laughed. “Actually, they are an old married couple. Don’t worry about them. So how are you?”

“I’m okay.” At least, she had been. The question pulled the rug from under her, and everything Molly and Diana came flooding back.

“Just okay, huh? I heard a little differently.”

“What? From who?”

Carla gave a playful shrug. “A…friend.”

Faye knew that look. “A friend named Raul?” What did he know? When Carla’s cheeks flushed pink, Faye nudged her. “Or is he more than just a friend?”

“I can’t kiss and tell here.” Carla nudged her back, waggling her eyebrows. “Come play poker with me, and I’ll tell you everything.”

“I’m not really the gambling type.”