Page 27 of Night By Night

Eliza emerged from the kitchen and welcomed them all with hugs. “Hope you brought your appetites,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Maddox said, catching the curiously arched eyebrow Eliza sent his way.

Hmm.

Once they were all sitting down and eating, Eliza focused on Maddox. “It’s so good to see you again. What are you up to? Where do you work?”

“I’m a CPA. I work for Marcia and Derrick Watson at—”

Rusty started coughing, choking on something, but Eliza’s gaze never wavered from Maddox’s.

Even more confirmation, and why Maddox had opted to name-drop.

“You gonna survive, barbarian?” Eliza asked, but still didn’t look away from Maddox.

“Yes, Ma’am,” he gasped as he reached for his glass of water.

“Small world,” Eliza drawled, her gaze narrowing. “Friends of ours. Good friends. Friends incommon.” She softly emphasized the last word in such a way Hank and JJ wouldn’t pick up on it.

But Maddox did.

Now he was certain. “I enjoy working for them,” Maddox honestly said. “They’re great people. We have a few…hobbiesin common, too.” Maddox glanced over at Hank, but his friend apparently had no reaction. He was clueless.

Rusty was still trying to get his choking under control, but Eliza slowly nodded, a playful smirk curling her lips. “Then we’ll have to talk sometime.” She quickly shifted the conversation to other topics. By the time they were ready to leave that evening, Maddox was convinced Rusty was collared to Eliza.

She pulled out her phone. “Give me your contact info, Maddox.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He did, and she texted him.

“That way, if we need to coordinate transportation or something for JJ, we can.”

“Absolutely.”

With her full tummy and the afternoon’s martial arts class, JJ fell asleep almost as soon as they pulled out of their driveway. On the way home, Hank seemed a little…melancholy.

“You okay, buddy?” Maddox asked.

“Yeah.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

He slowly shook his head. “Nothing. That’s what’s terrifying me—everything’s goingrightfor a damn change.”