“Sure. We’ve worked it out so she’ll come home during the holidays, and I’ll fly up to see her some weekends. We know it’ll be hard, but we’re serious about making it work.” He swallowed. “I’m so proud of her for winning that internship.”

“Were there any hard feelings about that? I know Kyle Baker was also on the short list.” A bit of a town golden boy, Vincent’s younger brother had been the favorite going in.

Dominic’s face tightened. “That twat Kyle tried to make it seem like Miri got it because of her looks, but her talent outstrips his by a mile. And the judges were all -outsiders—-they weren’t biased in favor of Kyle just because everyone thinks he’s the great promise of this town, the shining star who can do no wrong.”

Will had seen that particular bias in action; he’d caught Kyle and another -nineteen--year--old tagging a building, both with spray cans in hand. The townspeople had blamed the other boy for leading Kyle astray, asked Will to be lenient so Kyle wouldn’t end up with a record that might blight his future.

Will had given both young males a warning that there would be no second chance. Kyle had been remorseful, had even shut up his mate when the other boy went to mouth off. He definitely hadn’t come across as entitled or a brat, but that could simply mean he knew how to work people in authority. Or it could be that Dominic disliked him for giving Miriama such stiff competition. “Anyone else ever make Miriama uncomfortable?”

Dominic stared down at the carpet with unmoving focus. “You know how men look at her. I got used to -that—-had to if I wanted to be with her, you know?—-but I think it bothers her sometimes. Nikau Martin stares at her all the fucking time.” A grimace. “He thinks he can get any woman he wants, but Miriama isn’t interested. She isn’t into anger or bitterness.”

Will’s mind flashed back to the other night in the pub and Nikau’s -unhidden—-some might say -predatory—-interest. Dominic was also right about the effect Miriama had on most of the men in this town. It was possible she’d drawn the attention of the wrong man without realizing it. And small as Golden Cove was, she probably knew that man and wouldn’t have felt any sense of danger if approached.

But there were other possibilities and he’d be a bad cop if he ignored them. No one had ever called him that, not even when his mistakes had led to two deaths. Will’s policework had been stellar; it was his understanding of human nature that had let him down. This time around, he’d dig down to the bone and tear apart shields until he knew every secret in this town.

18

“Have you two recently had a fight?”

Dominic’s head jerked up, shoulders knotting. “I’d never hurt her!”

“I’m not accusing you of anything,” Will said. “I’m wondering if Miriama is the kind of woman who might’ve taken off to teach you a lesson.”

Frown digging into his forehead, Dominic shook his head. “No,” he said. “That’s one of the things I love most about -her—-she’s straight--up honest.” He dropped his eyes to the carpet again, shoulders going limp. “I’ve never had to worry about lies with my Miri. If she’s mad at me, she just tells me to go take a hike. She’d never just run away and make me worry. And she wouldn’t make her aunt worry.”

Looking up, Dominic exhaled and the air came out in a tremor. “She’s tight with Josie at the café, too, and with Josie so close to her due date, Miri wouldn’t want to cause her any kind of stress. She’s even been talking about learning to knit so she can make socks for the baby.”

All of that meshed with what Will knew of Miriama. “Is there anything else you think I should know? It doesn’t matter if it’s a minor detail.”

“I’ve never felt so useless,” the doctor said softly. “My parents are so proud of me for being so educated, but what use are my degrees now? I know nothing about how to search for someone in the bush. Nik and the others, they’re out there looking for her and I’m sitting in here safe and warm and doing nothing to help.”

“You’re helping by speaking to me.” Will was worried about Dominic’s mental state. As far as he knew, Dominic de Souza had no other family in town. He’d only taken up the position as the town’s GP a year earlier, after the previous doctor retired. “I have one more question.”

Head still hanging low and his hair falling forward, the doctor took off his glasses and said, “What?” It was a soft, jagged, broken statement.

“How long have you and Miriama been going out?” Will tried to keep his tone bland, not wanting to trigger the other man’s volatile emotions. “Was she going out with anyone else before you?”

“We had our -three--month anniversary a week ago. I fell in love with her the first time I saw her, but it took me more than half a year to work up the guts to approach -her—-I mean, she was so young. I still can’t believe she’s only nineteen and a half now, she’s so strong, knows exactly what she wants.”

The other man put his glasses back on. “Six more months, I said to her at lunch. Then she’ll be twenty and I won’t feel like such a -cradle--robber.” Shoving his hands through his hair again, he got up and began to pace around the room. “She said no the first two times I asked her out, but I decided to try again a few months ago. When she said yes, I thought I was dreaming.”