“Dom!” He stood up and came over. “Are you okay?”
The phone call. I must’ve sounded like a drunkard.
“I don’t know what I am right now.” My hand came up and rubbed my furrowed brows. “I think maybe I was wrong. It was a dream”
“Wrong about?” he pulled me towards the table.
I took a seat and waited for him to do the same before I looked him in the eyes. “About seeing that girl.” Looking around the kitchen, I didn’t see Anna. “Where’s Anna?”
“Anna?” He looked at me, confused. “OH! You mean the owner?”
“Yeah.” I nodded and got up to look down the hall into the front room.
“Dom. Sit down. I need you to make sense.” The firmness in his voice told me he might lose his temper soon.
I went back to the table. “Where did you see her?”
“She was cleaning up the lawn outside, escorted me in and then went looking for you.” His nostrils flared. “So did you, or didn’t you, see her?” He held his hands out frustratedly.
“No, I haven’t seen her.” I shook my head.
“Concentrate. Dominick.” He growled. “I’m not talking about fucking Anna.”
“What?” I sat back in the chair. “Who are you talking about?”
“The missing girl you think you saw.”
With a shake of my head, I looked at him. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?” He grabbed my arms to get my full attention. “You’re still not making any sense.”
“I think it was a dream.” I nodded.
He growled at me and his fingers dug into my skin. “What was a dream?”
My chest puffed up, and I chuckled. “I had the most vivid dream of my life.” I sat back, blowing out a hard breath. “I thought I saw the missing girl here.” All around me, I motioned. “But I was wrong.”
“You’ve said that. Three times now. Where in this place did you see her?” My partner leaned in closer.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I just remember a room of people.”
“What are you not saying, Dom?” My partner’s voice sounded frustrated, and I didn’t blame him. I sounded like a loon.
Sean lifted his head and his tone changed when he spoke to her. “Hello Miss Anna.”
“I see you found him.” She smiled and walked closer. “Can I get either of you a drink? Dom? Would you like some brunch?”
Her dark eyes peered into mine and I felt less confused. I let out a soft sigh and shook my head again. “You know what I would like?”
“Hm, if this is a game where I guess I’ll guess you’re a pancake man.” She gave me a cheeky wink.
A small smile spread across my face. “That sounds great. Coffee too?”
“Anything you’d like.” She walked over and slipped her apron over her clothes. “It’ll be ready before you know it. Would you like some as well, detective?”
She glanced over her shoulder and I caught her watching him scratch his stubbled face. “Sure. What the hell.”
“What the hell, indeed.” She laughed and got busy cooking.