Point made—she was no coward. Quitting because panic nipped at her heels was unacceptable. If she left the cage when West ordered, she’d find it twice as hard to go back in next time. And really—a police diver losing it because of a big, dumb shark that couldn’t even get to her? She confronted more danger patrolling the streets of Wellington city on a Friday night shift. Breaking the surface, Piper spat out the regulator and pulled off her mask and hood. The sunshine striking her face after the chilly water was bliss. She climbed onto the boat and dropped her mask into the bin with the other spares. West lounged on one of the cushioned benches, feet propped on an overturned fish bin, his fingers wrapped around an open bottle of Coke. He drank deeply, then placed the bottle on the table in front of him. “You done?” “Yep.” She sat on a plastic stool and peeled off the neoprene booties, wriggling her toes. “I can see why the loopies like it. It’s an adrenaline rush.”
