I frowned."Ididn't."
"Then you must've been hiding under a rock, because it popped onto my feed like ten times."
Regardless, I'd been unable to find it even once – something I chalked up to her previous employer, who had a reputation for making publicity problems go away. "But you haven't seen it lately. Am I right?"
"Sure, but it's not like I've been looking. So tell me. What'd she do toyou?"
She hadn't done a damn thing – not the wayhemade it sound.I replied, "Nothing."
"Thatpsycho? You sure?"
My jaw tightened. "Don't call her that."
At this, he literally groaned. "Don't tell me you have a thing for her."
I said nothing as the street loomed empty in front of me. I knew what Maddox was asking, but I wasn't ready to say it.
Into my silence, he said, "You know Carver's looking for her, right?"
No kidding.But I was curious. "And you know this, how?"
"Becauseeveryoneknows it. Get this. He offered to make it worth my while to find her."
It was my turn to say it. "Fuck."
Maddox chuckled. "Yeah, that's whatIsaid."
"So he offered you what? Money?"
"Moneyanda favor – as if I needed either from him."
"So, what'd you tell him?"
"To fuck off, what else?"
Knowing Maddox, he wasn't joking. Even so, I couldn't help but smile. "Good."
"So whoisshe? And before you start giving me her history, what I mean is…who is she toyou?"
If this were almost anyone else, my guard would've already been up. But this was Maddox. I trusted him – and not only because of our history. Still, I didn't have a good reply. In the end, all I said was, "I don't know."
"That's not an answer."
"Yeah, but it's the only one I've got."
"How long have you known her?"
"Long enough."This was no lie.On the calendar, the time was short. But it was still long to know she was a decent person who'd been dealt a shitty hand.
And yet, this alone wouldn't have me calling Maddox in the middle of the night.I knew this.
And Maddox knew it, too, because when he replied, the amusement was back. "That long, huh?"
This wasn't funny."So can you spare someone or not?"
"For this?" he said with a chuckle. "Sure, why not?"
The tightness in my shoulders eased. As I started walking again toward my hotel, I gave him the rundown of everything I knew, which granted, wasn't nearly enough.
