Then she did what any woman in her place would do. She ran out of there, leaving her coat and most of her dignity behind.

Connor stared at Maddie’s back as she raced out of the office, letting the door bounce against the far wall, and bolted through the reception area to the outside. As far as exits went, it was impressive.

A lot about the scene he just survived struck him as impressive. Like her. She was about five-foot-seven of pure fire. The dirty-blond hair, wavy and long, framing her face like a halo. Those big green eyes. That not-to-be-ignored ass.

And she had a swing that nearly knocked him out, which brought his mind back to his main concern. “She just walked out of here.”

Ben made a humming sound as if he were trying to figure out what he just witnessed. “Yep.”

“In the middle of the conversation.” That was the part that had Connor stumped. Did she really think she could run and he would let this drop?

Ben nodded. “That did happen, yes.”

“She didn’t even apologize.”

“It kind of sounded like she expected you to thank her for watching after the cabin, but I agree that part was fuzzy.”

Right then Connor decided he liked Ben. He didn’t play games or throw his weight around. He looked and sounded as stumped as Connor was. But none of that explained Maddie’s actions. “What the hell is going on with her?”

“Admittedly, even for Whitaker that conversation was weird.” Ben shuffled the folders around on his desk and took out some papers. “Look, you can press charges and—”

“I’m not doing that.” Connor knew panic when he saw it. He’d failed his sister but he’d learned to look for the signs now. He had no plans on being the world’s savior, but he had made a personal vow to step in when and if he could. There had been enough death on his watch.

“Because?”

“There’s obviously something strange happening with her. Around her. I’m not sure.” He sensed whatever drove her to attack him was bigger than what they could cover in a few minutes during this conversation. “And, not to be an asshole here, but I don’t exactly trust the police.”

“Subtle.”

Connor shrugged. “It’s a learned response.”

He’d spent so much time after his sister’s death trying to get someone, anyone, to believe she had been killed. Hansen had gone to extremes and gotten himself in trouble. Connor had tried to follow the rules. Back then he’d marched up the chain of command and told his story. Doing the right thing in the right way earned him nothing. Not a damn thing.

“I get you have a past, but I think you’ll find I’m not a total dick,” Ben said.

Connor guessed that was true but he wasn’t ready to admit that yet. “Maybe.”