“Have you made any progress with Riki or Zoe’s cases?” Louisa asked. “Are any of Zoe’s DNA test results in yet?”

Originally, Damian had speculated the tests would be back within a week, which was tomorrow.

The police didn’t answer. Instead, Jackson rose. “We’re done here.”

“I’ll see you to the door.” Louisa gestured toward the foyer. She didn’t want Conor to say anything else until she’d firmly closed the door on the police.

She pressed her back against the cold steel. “I can’t believe Isa is gone.”

Conor paced the small foyer. “How can another girl go missing without anyone noticing?”

“I don’t know.” Dread swirled in Louisa’s stomach. “He’s very cunning.”

He whirled, his face an angry mask of frustration. “More likely he’s someone the girls knew—and trusted.”

“Time to call Damian,” Louisa said. “So he can inquire on the status of the DNA test results. With Riki the police didn’t release that information to the public until her family had been notified. Maybe the same thing is happening with Zoe.”

“Maybe. I don’t want to be too optimistic, but it feels like their case against me is weakening. It’s hard to beat cops for an alibi.”

“Then why were they here?”

“I’m not sure.” Conor scrubbed his scalp with his fingers. “Looking for a new lead? Hopefully it wasn’t because they don’t have any other serious suspects.”

The late morning October sun was warm on Conor’s head as he sat on the bus stop bench across from Heath Yeager’s town house. He’d parked his car a few blocks away and strolled over, a backpack slung over one shoulder. Back in his cell phone and hoodie disguise, he blended in with the male students, as long as he kept his face hooded. Two kids pedaled by on bikes. A trio of young women exited the converted row home next door and strode away, absorbed in conversation. Backpack between his feet, head bent down toward his phone, Conor watched.

He couldn’t believe he’d blown it with Louisa. But how did he feel about a real, long-term relationship with a woman who kept secrets until he pried them from her with a metaphorical crow bar? And putting money aside, their backgrounds were polar opposites.

Movement snapped Conor out of his introspection. Heath came out of his front door and walked toward the campus. Two of his roommates had left a half hour before. Where was the fourth?

After Heath disappeared around the corner, Conor got up and ambled toward the building. On the front porch, he used his elbow to ring the doorbell, then pretended to wait to be let in. No one answered. Where was the fourth roommate?