“Not if the authorities tag him for the murder.”

I met his eyes. “If it was that simple, Wendy would have gone straight to the cops the moment she heard Calvo was murdered. You figured that out a long time ago, didn’t you?”

He didn’t deny it. “I had nothing to lose. You had everything.”

“I need to talk to him myself. I know it might not be a hundred percent safe, and I know he might take off afterward. But unless I do, I won’t know the full extent of her lies, and I won’t know how best to protect Holly and Noelle and my parents.”

“You’re assuming that Ex won’t lie. That whatever he tells you will be gospel.”

“Okay, it sounds stupid. I get that. I told you I’d be up front. I just wanted you to know what I’m planning.”

I waited for him to tell me I was walking into danger again, and that yes, the one thing I’d said that rang true was that my plan was stupid. Instead he took my hand, turned it over and lifted it to his lips.

He kissed my palm before he spoke. “You want me to come?”

“Pretty much more than anything.”

“You want me for my language skills?”

“That, too. But I want you because...I don’t want to go without you.”

“You couldn’t ask?”

“Are you kidding? You really should avoid me.”

He squeezed my hand and dropped it. “I tell myself that, but it’s not getting through.”

“You don’t have to come, Teo. Why should you? I’ll understand.”

“You’re getting closer to asking me. Try harder.”

I sighed. “Will you come to Costa Rica with me?”

“When?”

“You’re not teaching until the new term starts, right? So as soon as I can get reservations and make arrangements to get out to the resort where he’s working.”

“Immediately then. Yeah, I’ll come.”

“I’m not going to cry.” I sniffed. Hard.

He put his arm around me and pulled me close. “Go ahead and practice. No matter what Ex tells you, you have more tears ahead.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

I had no doubt Costa Rica was charming, and I was sure we would see plenty of it on our way to the resort in Tortuguero tomorrow. But by the time Teo and I drove to Miami, went through body scanning at security where Peg was swabbed for explosives and drugs, and waited for two hours in the airport, I just wanted the trip over with. After we finally boarded, took a three-hour flight to San José, stood for an hour to get through customs and headed outside to find transportation to our hotel, we were both so exhausted we could have been anywhere. San José was a metropolitan area with a population of more than two million, the usual traffic and congestion near the airport, and very little to distinguish it from other tropical cities I’d visited.

Unfortunately, my own exhaustion was eclipsed by Teo’s. He was in pain. That was clear, even though he refused to talk about it.