Byyle reached into his pocket for keys, unlocked the passenger side door, fished through the glove compartment, and presented the records to Steffano. He looked at the address on College Street, Rhode Island. The name and address matched the insurance. All was in order and valid. Steffano took photos and made notes, then returned the items. Then Steffano cued up his tablet to photos of Samantha Moore and Kevin Tatum.

“Mr. Byyle, did you ever see these people at any time in your area?”

Byyle looked at them and shook his head.

“Did you pass by the Green Rolling Hills Inn in Spiritsburg on the seventh, between twelve and two a.m.?” Steffano asked.

“No.”

“Have you noticed anything unusual, any activity, anyone coming to your door, or trespassing on the property, during the last few days?”

“No. It’s quiet and peaceful. No one comes out this way. Nothing ever happens. It’s why I love to come here to paint.”

Nodding, Steffano made more notes.

“Mr. Byyle, would you allow us to search the property?”

“I’d like to, but I’m not the owner, and I don’t know the procedure for letting you inside.”

“No, not inside. We’d need a warrant. What I meant was, would you volunteer to let Ben and Luna here take a few hours to search the property outside? In case our missing subject wandered this far, which is unlikely.”

“I see. Well, yes, by all means. Certainly. Go right ahead.”

“Thank you,” Steffano said, handing Byyle a flyer. “Please take a look at this information sheet on the case.”

Byyle studied Samantha Moore’s pretty face, and details on her hair and eye color, height, weight. How she was last seen wearing jeans and a white T-shirt with John Lennon’s picture, and the circumstances concerning her disappearance from the motel.

“All right. If you think of anything that might help us, no matter how insignificant, please, give us a call. I’m going to leave Ben and Luna to their work. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Byyle.” Steffano returned to his car.

But he didn’t leave. Steffano got on his radio, and even though his windows were up, it was clear he was running a check of Byyle’s information with police databases.

Byyle turned to Brenner, who was massaging Luna in advance of their search.

“Good luck,” Byyle said. “It’s a big piece of land. To go over every inch will take a long time.”

“That’s fine,” Brenner said. “We can cover a lot of ground fairly quickly. We go where Luna takes us.”

Steffano started his SUV, gave a little wave, and drove off just as Brenner and Luna set out.