“Wrong.” Ben stepped inside but held the door open. He pointed to a spot along the edge of the door next to the knob. “It looks like someone tried to force the lock.”

“What?” She stepped around Connor and bent down to study the damage.

“Look here.” Ben outlined the area in question. “The cracked wood. Probably from a tool of some sort.”

Connor wasn’t any kind of expert but he could see the dent and the divot. It looked like someone gouged out a piece of the wood around the dead bolt, which explained the strange noises.

“It would have taken a lot to get through all of the locks.” Maddie sounded calm but her chest rose and fell on harsh breaths.

Connor watched her demeanor change. All the effort tonight to relax her was wasted. Her shoulders tensed and her movements turned jerky.

Evan emerged out of the darkness at the side of the house. “Nothing.”

“Maybe she just wanted to scare me,” Maddie said, sounding doubtful of her own theory.

The unwanted island guest had tools and the will to get into Maddie’s house even though she wasn’t alone. That was good enough to convince Connor that this was more than a game to the woman. “That’s not really the point.”

“For once I agree with Connor.” Evan holstered his weapon. “Daria isn’t playing now. She’s coming in hot, and you know what that means.”

Maddie nibbled on her bottom lip. “This still feels wrong.”

“What else has to happen before you stop taking chances?”

“That’s enough.” Ben sounded weary and exhausted and didn’t look much better. “We are not having that argument again tonight, Evan. Stay focused.”

“You know it’s not safe for her.” Evan looked from Maddie to Connor. “Hell, it’s not safe for you either.”

He was right and, for once, he hadn’t flipped into full asshole mode. But Connor’s patience was long gone and the sound of Evan’s voice was enough to push him past what he could reasonably take. “Maybe if you put more effort into solving this and less into lecturing, she would be safe.”

Evan’s expression switched from neutral to furious. His cheeks flushed with rage but his voice remained deadly even. “Are you telling me how to do my job?”

“I’m out of the program. I’m not your job right now,” Maddie said.

“That argument is asinine.”

Ben took his cell out of his back pocket but not before shooting Connor and Maddie a quick look. “You should go to the Lodge.”

“No.” Maddie shook her head. “If danger is following me then I’m not spreading it around any more than I already have. Sylvia, the other people eating in the Lodge dining room. The people who live there. It’s too dangerous for them.”