That wasn’t right. Connor remembered Maddie talking about visiting Dom. “She comes here all the time and asks you questions.”

“She bugs me, but we never talk for more than ten minutes. Even then, she’s focused on one topic only.” Dom made a grumbling noise. “Why should I go talking about people’s private stuff with her or with you?”

Connor gave up trying to explain. “So you lied to us.”

“No,” Dom said. “I was careful about what I shared. That’s what smart people do.”

Connor took a step in Dom’s direction. He had no idea what he was going to do, but Ben’s arm held him back.

“What did she look like?” Ben asked.

“A woman.” When they both stared at him, Dom continued. “Look, I don’t have a memory for details unless it’s stuff I care about. I didn’t care about this couple or people in general.”

Connor refused to let that be the end of the conversation. “Try.”

“She was younger than him. More attractive than him. All I remember is thinking they didn’t match as a couple.”

“I’m going to need you to come in and give a better description.”

“That’s a waste of time.”

“That’s what you get for lying to Connor and Maddie.” Ben started to walk away. “I need you in by the end of the day.”

“This is why I don’t get involved.”

Ben ignored the comment and so did Connor. He’d had enough of Dom and the quirky Whitaker types for the day.

He waited until they neared the parking lot and moved out of earshot. Where Dom’s grumbling wasn’t quite so close or so loud. “Now what?”

“I check the open properties, looking for a woman.”

That didn’t sound like a real plan to Connor. More like a hope. “But what woman? How does she fit in?”

Ben shook his head. “I have no damn idea.”

Chapter 23

It was early afternoon before Maddie saw Connor again. They’d met back at home with a kiss but nothing else. Once she heard the story about the woman, and Dom keeping secrets for stupid reasons, she couldn’t think of anything else. But she had a plan.

Now to convince Connor to help her.

She waited until he walked into her kitchen and got a glass out of the cabinet. He poured a glass of water while she watched. When he offered her one, she declined. She couldn’t afford to get sidetracked right now.

“It will be faster if we help him.” As she talked, he eyed her over the rim of his glass but didn’t say anything. She took that as a sign to keep pitching. “We can search some of the places this woman might hide.”