23 December 2017, the day of book launch.

As the yacht sailed into the wonderful Sydney Harbour on a wonderful sunny day, the mood on board wasn't exactly wonderful. In fact, it was gloomy! Gloomy as can be, at least for those related to Devi Dhungel.

No one sipped champagne from flutes under wide-brimmed sun hats though. No one laughed at a stupid joke or bossed the crew around. There was no chatter at all, not like the day they had sailed out.

No.

All was quiet on that yacht. No one said goodbyes. No one mentioned the happenings of the night. No one even whispered or side-eyed Devi—for she was hiding. None ever mentioned the million dollars prize lie Hector had woven to get them on that yacht.

The man responsible for it all hung back, away from the others gathered on the sunny deck to watch their approach. He considered them rather than pay attention to one of the most magnificent harbour looming ahead. He especially watched the pairs, holding hands or some parts of each other's body to say 'I'm here'. He wished he could have said that to a certain someone he'd rather not think about anymore.

Don and Bhawani, now openly out about their relationship hugged one another, watching the large white petals of the Sydney Opera House glide past them. Marvin and Vinay, two peas in the same pod, stood shoulder to shoulder, scrutinising the former. Miles had his arm around Unati's shoulder, the two ex-assistants having bonded over their dislike of their former boss. Even Ryan Pecker, the ex-boyfriend jilted at the 'Will you marry me?' phase, seemed to have a good thing going on with Miss Hector-still-didn't-know-her-name as he placed a hand oh-so-close to her round derriere. Chef Toby stood alone, soaking in the sight.

As Hector watched them eagerly waiting to disembark, he missed the one person he wished he wouldn't miss. Devi. She was nowhere to be seen.

Good. I don't want to see her, anyway.

But he did. He really did.

Little did he know, the watcher was also the watchee.

Devi stood just inside the dining, too afraid to alert him of her presence should it spook him. She stared at his pretty little head, longing to imprint it in her heart and mind. She wanted to drink him in just a little longer, because she knew, as soon as that yacht docked, he would go without saying goodbye.

Please stay. She wanted to beg, despite her aversion to appearing desperate. Please stay ... with me. I'm sorry.

But he wouldn't.

Yet, none of it was going to matter in a few moments. None. Not his feelings. Nor hers.

As the yacht pulled closer to its dock, its home, they knew they were in for a whirlwind, for on the marina, a large, moving amoeba of a crowd gathered, their buzzing excitement filling the air like a flock of seabirds.

Cameras flashed. Devi's name was called out, like a chant. People bustled to get to the front of the line.

"What the hell is going on?" Marvin stirred, no longer preoccupied with staring daggers at Don.

Others too shifted uncomfortably about the deck, wondering the same, as they observed the mass of humans etching to get their hands on Devi on terra firma.

"Did something happen?"

"Are those journos?"

"And police?"

"Oh my god, TV channels are here too!"

"Are they here to arrest us?"

"I thought we were safe now ..."

Vinay searched for 'Devi Dhungel,' on his phone and read the first headline that popped up. "There's an article on Thulo Mummy in yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald. She's alive and ready to talk: The Ordeal of Devi Dhungel, by a reporter named Brady Moriarty. Who the fuck is Brady Moriarty?"

At that precise moment, Hector chuckled, full of mirth. Fucking Brady Moriarty! But he couldn't blame his friend for doing what he said he would.

He watched the jousting crowd, chanting her name, "Devi! Devi!" and wished he could have seen her reaction to it all. Hope this is everything you wished for, Devi. Your publicity.

"I'm glad some goods came out of all this for others." He turned, ready to grab his bag which he'd left just inside the dining. He was ready to go home; get away from the city, get away from her.

Devi plastered herself behind the door just as it opened and Hector grabbed his duffle bag. She thought she was safe. She thought she'd stayed out of sight.

"I don't know why you're hiding back here when the world is eager to see your comeback, Ms Dhungel," Hector said, standing by the door, bag in hand, glancing at her through the window pane in the door panel. "Come out and enjoy your spoils. You've worked hard for it."

Devi stepped out from her hiding spot. "I don't want it anymore."

"World doesn't work that way, I'm afraid." He stepped away from the door, making way for her. "If you don't get out there, they'll likely swarm the yacht. They are here for you."

For a moment, he and Devi looked into each other's eyes, speaking a storm of words the lips didn't dare.

Finally, Hector broke the spell with a small smile. "They are waiting for you, Devi. Go. I'll be here when the dust settles."

Devi nodded, rose on her tiptoes, and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, ever-so-brief. "Thank you." And with that, she stepped into the light, to a cacophony of screams from the dock.

Cameras flickered, questions flew, reporter after reporter called her name.

Hector watched it all from his spot in the shadows.

Devi Dhungel glanced back at him just once as she touched the ground, their eyes meeting briefly before she the excited amoeba swallowed her whole and was gone.

Then one by one, the others disembarked. The quiet returned to the dock as the flock shimmied away, Devi lost somewhere in its folds.

From the departing crowd, a handful remained, mostly police officers. Among them was a certain officer Hector wished he'd never see again.

"Constable Martinez?" Officer Gordon called out. "Care to debrief us?"

"Not really." Hector shook his head as he stepped off the yacht. "I'm going home, Gordon. You'll just have to read my report when you get it. For the rest"—he pointed at the yacht—"This time, there was no blackout. Have at it. It's all yours!

"This is not my circus anymore." He pushed past Gordon with his head held high. "I'm going home."

And yes, he was. He was going back home, back to life without Devi. Back to being simply 'Hector from Mystery Cove'.