Sylvia moved around behind the counter, and when she turned around to face them again, she held a tray of breakfast pastries. “I’m the head of the Whitaker Board. We meet once a week and he fills me in about what’s happening and cases I need to be aware of, which usually consists of people who refuse to pick up their dog poop and unexplained garden trampling. That one was last week, by the way. Louise Stone wants to know who messed with her carrots.”

Connor nodded, looking all serious as if this were a weighty discussion. “Probably the same dog that did the poop-and-run.”

“But still. Isn’t there a confidentiality thing here?” Well, there was no reason to miss out on a doughnut, so Maddie took the one covered in chocolate.

“Ben also knows he can count on me to keep quiet and to be on the lookout for new faces around Whitaker.”

Connor turned down the offer for food. “Maddie has that under control.”

Maddie stopped right before taking a bite. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

She almost toppled off the barstool when Paul stepped between her and Connor and sort of pushed her to the side. “Uh, hello?”

But Paul’s focus centered on the pastries. It took him what felt like forever to pick out the bear claw before turning to Connor. “Thanks for the help the other day. Maybe you can come around next week. I think another porch step is on the fritz.”

Connor shook his head. “I don’t—”

“Wednesday, but don’t sleep the whole day away this time. Be there before seven.” Paul snatched the napkin sticking out from under Connor’s arm. And then he was off.

Connor didn’t try to stop him. He just watched the older man go. “He certainly moves fast after he issues an order.”

“Did they trick you into walking Winnie’s dog?” Sylvia asked.

Connor lifted his coffee mug. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay. What were we saying before Connor remembered his role in helping a lovely older couple have loud sex?” Sylvia asked.

Between the look on his face and Sylvia’s obvious amusement, Maddie lost it. She laughed. Just when she got it under control, she burst out a second time. “That will never not be funny.”

“Anyway.” Connor sounded the exact opposite of amused as he gave his explanation to Sylvia. “Our dear Maddie was supposed to be with Ben this morning and lied to him about running late. Blamed me.”

“Wait.” Maddie’s amusement dried up. “Lied? That’s a strong word.”

“What you did is the definition of lying,” Connor pointed out before turning back to Sylvia. “I didn’t know about the lie, so when I dropped her off at Ben’s, she snuck out and went to the ferry.”

Sylvia nodded. “Right. Her regular check on the ferry passengers.”