by K. B. Draper
Kanyon held up her hand. “Please stop. Don’t ruin my unhealthy love of processed pork products.” She gave her a playful wink. “I had fun, kiddo, but I need to head home and get these fish guts off me. Maybe we can hang out again soon, if it’s okay with your aunt?”
Avery gave a hopeful look to her aunt. “I’m sure we can manage that,” Daylen answered.
“Sweet!” Avery gave her aunt’s leg a hug.
Kanyon gave Daylen a smile then headed to the front door. She turned back when she reached the doorway and met two sets of liquid blue eyes. “Next time you’re going down, twerp.”
“Bring it,” Avery taunted as she walked over and held her arms up to Kanyon. Kanyon knelt and picked her up. She gave Kanyon a tight hug around her neck, mindless of the fish funk still on Kanyon’s shirt. “I’m glad you’re my aunt’s girlfriend in real-life.”
“Ah yeah, we’re not …” Kanyon began to protest, but Avery hopped a couple times, telling Kanyon she was ready to be put down.
Feet back on the floor, she rolled her eyes. “Whatever,” she replied as she turned to her aunt. “I’m going to pick out my bedtime book,” she advised as she darted up the stairs to her room.
Kanyon stood, hands crammed into her jeans pockets. “Wow, your niece is … ah … something.”
“Yes, something, would be accurate I think,” Daylen agreed as she followed her niece’s retreat. When Avery hit the top stair and disappeared from sight, Daylen turned, looked up, and met Kanyon’s deep blue eyes. She swallowed a moan. “She’s got an active imagination.”
“Imagination. Right.” Kanyon dropped her head. “Well, I guess I’d better be going.” She stepped out onto the porch.
“Yeah, I need to get her showered and in bed before her mom comes home and kills me.”
“We really didn’t get a chance to talk about what I found out tonight. So, I guess I’ll just meet you at the office in the morning?”
“Right.” At that, Daylen remembered what Kanyon had done prior to following Lydia. “Sorry about that. Things went good with Roz? I didn’t ask about the scripts she had for you.”
A slow grin rose on Kanyon’s lips. “Nothing really felt right, so I guess you’re stuck with me a little longer.”
Daylen placed her hand on the door and smiled. “I guess I can deal with that. I’ll see you bright and early … partner.”
“Yeah.” Kanyon smiled widely. “I’ll see you then.”
Chapter 14
Kanyon beat Daylen to the office the next morning by grabbing a quick shower at the dojo after her routine training class with Dodge. She was eager to show Daylen the evidence she’d compiled. A little late-night research had confirmed it was Johnny Defalco Sr. at the restaurant last night.
Daylen entered the office and stopped at the sight of Kanyon, who was standing and facing a wall of pictures. “Kanyon?”
Kanyon turned quickly, waving an arm at her creation. “What do you think?” She stood back from the wall to give Daylen an unobstructed view.
Daylen sat her bag absently on her desk as she took in the once bare wall of her office that was now covered with a large white board that had a timeline, photos with quick bios on each person, as well as facts and information they had revealed. It was all displayed in a precise and logical manner with connecting lines running from persons, to facts, to dates, and so on. “Kanyon, this is … impressive.”
“Not as cool as the CSI electric boards. I’m still trying to figure out where you can buy those things.”
Daylen shook her head, not sure whether or not Kanyon was joking. “This works.” She followed the lines from person to fact, from fact to person, and from person to person. “How long did this take you?”
“Not that long. I was lying in bed last night and I could just picture it all in my head so I thought it would be better if we could both see it. You know?”
“It’s good. And according to this,” Daylen followed a line with a fingertip, “we need to connect Lydia to Rick.”
“Yep. Might not solve the case, but that’s definitely something we need to figure out.”
“Agreed, but first, why don’t you fill me in on what happened last night and why you showed up smelling like a line worker at a tuna factory?”
“Right,” Kanyon replied as Daylen moved to sit at her desk. Kanyon pulled up a chair and proceeded to tell the important details of the night, like Lydia meeting the guy in the photo, wanting to get the license plate number to verify his identity, and then slipping in fish guts. She didn’t think the, how she came about slipping in the fish guts, was an important detail.
“You were just walking and slipped in fish goo?” Daylen asked suspiciously.
“I might’ve been going faster than a walk, like a jog or something, but anyway, it’s not important.” She stood and walked back over to the board. “We need to focus on these things.” She pointed at the board.
“Okay well, let me start a more in-depth background on Rick and Lydia, maybe there’ll be some connection there. Then I’d like to go to the warehouse where they took Rick and Jeff. I’m sure there’s nothing there, but I want to look around anyway.” What she didn’t say was she was eager to practice Aunt Ruby’s latest lessons and see if she could open and close her shields at will and get any visions, or sense anything in the warehouse. She searched the internet and through the backgrounds while Kanyon paced and stared at the board. She finally pushed back from her desk and spun her chair toward Kanyon. “I think I have something. Three years ago, Lydia worked as a waitress at Club V and guess who just happened to be a bartender there?”
“Ricky?”
“Yep.”
“Nice. Well that little connection is closed.” Kanyon wrote Club V across the line connecting Rick and Lydia. “So, to the warehouse?”
They pulled up to the large brick building, which sat under an overpass, and took a quick scan of the area. “This isn’t that far from the O’Connellys or where they hijacked the transport vehicle,” Kanyon noticed.
Daylen didn’t comment. She was trying to let down her shields, as Aunt Ruby called them, opening herself to any emotional residue, memories, or visions. Nothing. Maybe there’s nothing out here. She made her way toward the warehouse. Or maybe I just need a little boost from my unknowing power supply. She quickened her pace to catch up with Kanyon.
Kanyon walked up to a window and peered in. “It’s too dark.”
Daylen walked over and checked the door. She felt a slight burning sensation shoot up her arm and quickly retracted her hand from the doorknob.
“You okay?” Kanyon asked.
“Yeah. It’s just locked.”
Kanyon walked over, moved Daylen out of the way with an arm, then kicked in the door, splintering the frame. Kanyon pushed the door open wider with her foot. “No it’s not.”
“Jesus, Kanyon, you can’t just–” Her reprimand silenced as visions began to form in front of her. She saw Rick and Jeff cuffed to chairs. Rick was talking to two big guys while a smaller well-dressed guy sat back in the shadows watching. Daylen moved further into the room, taking in the scene. Jeff’s eyes were closed and a trail of blood was running down his face. The way his head was hanging, she could tell he was unconscious. She focused on Rick. He was smiling as he looked up at the two towering guys over him. He was definitely not in duress. She slowly spun around, something telling her the guy in the shadows was the important one in the room. She walked closer, trying to make out his figure. She could see his cream-colored suit but she couldn’t bring his face into focus. She stepped even closer. She had the impression he wasn’t a big guy. He was younger, younger than Senior, but she still couldn’t see his face.
Kanyon turned from the window and darted toward Daylen. “Daylen, we need to get out of here.”
“Just a few more minutes.” Daylen reached out as if she could touch the stranger.
“We don’t have a few minutes,” Kanyon said as she grabbed Daylen’s arm jolting her out of he
r visions. She nearly lost her balance at the sudden loss of connection.
Kanyon caught her. “Sorry,” she offered quickly, assuming she’d caused Daylen to stumble, “but we need to find a back door.”
“Why?” She turned at a crashing noise.
“Because those two are currently using the front one,” Kanyon answered as she pulled Daylen into action.
“It’s that bitch!” yelled one of the guys from the restaurant’s parking lot.
Kanyon pulled Daylen behind her, jockeying their way through rows and rows of stacked crates. Kanyon moved confidently, not knowing exactly how she knew which way to turn, but she didn’t stop to question herself. They shot through an emergency exit on the opposite side of the building. “This way.” Kanyon directed and they took off running again.
“Uhhhh, Kanyon, why do those guys act like they know you?” Daylen asked as she struggled to keep pace alongside Kanyon.
“Duh.” Kanyon turned down between a row of buildings, pulling Daylen with her. “I’m a world-famous actress, lots of people know me.”
The two men took turns yelling threats at their backs.
“And they want to cause you bodily harm because?” Daylen asked as Kanyon led her into a thin passage which opened into a vacant parking lot.
“Not everyone is a fan.”
“Kanyon!”
“Fine. I might have, kind of … ran into them last night.”
Daylen glanced over her shoulder in the direction of the explicit threats spewing from the henchmen. “And I take it you MIGHT have pissed them off?”
“Maybe.”
“You’re so not going out on your own again,” Daylen said as they stopped in front of a chain-link fence.
Kanyon bent her knees and cupped her hands together. “Oh, like I don’t piss people off when I’m supervised.”
“True,” Daylen agreed as she put a foot in Kanyon’s hands. She would’ve added more if she wasn’t breathing so hard and if Kanyon wouldn’t have literally just tossed her over a six-foot fence. Daylen was righting herself as Kanyon effortlessly vaulted the fence and landed gracefully.
Daylen eyed the top of the fence then Kanyon. “Dang, workout much?” Daylen asked sarcastically.
“Pilates. Come on.”
They ran another block to a more populated area of the city with stores, sidewalk cafes, and boutiques. They darted through the crowds then turned down a side street.
Needing to catch her breath, Daylen grabbed Kanyon and pulled her into a small recess in one of the building’s alcoves.
Kanyon was starting to breathe heavy too, but she wasn’t sure if it was because of the four-block sprint they’d just ran or if it was because she was now pressed firmly against Daylen.
Kanyon leaned back slightly so she could glance down the street. She could do this without having to take a step back, so she figured they were still somewhat visible in their cubbyhole. “I think they can still see us.”
“Well, get closer.” Daylen grabbed Kanyon’s shirt and pulled her tight against her.
“If I get any closer, I’ll be inside you.” Kanyon cleared her throat. “I mean …” She shook her head. “I didn’t mean …” She fumbled, shifting uncomfortably at the thoughts her unintentional innuendo ignited within her.
They heard the ruckus of their pursuers pushing through the crowded streets. Kanyon leaned back to glance out. “They’re so going to see us,” Kanyon said as she pulled her head back in quickly.
“Well, think of something.”
With Daylen pressed up against her Kanyon could only think of one thing to do. The whole kissing-couple-camouflage thing works in the movies. She leaned in, bringing her lips only a breath away from Daylen’s.
A crash of tables and chairs came from the end of the street. “There they are!” Kanyon heard the rushing footsteps and froze. She watched as Daylen’s eyes fluttered back open, their eyes caught and held each other’s gaze for a slow motion second. She stepped back, having to steady herself. Another crash came, closer this time, and they both broke eye contact to see the men running toward them and carrying broken off wooden table legs as weapons. “Fight or Flight?” Kanyon asked.
“I’m thinking flight sounds pretty good.”
“I’m comfortable with that decision.” Kanyon grabbed Daylen’s shoulder, spinning her away from the guys and giving her a push in the opposite direction.
They broke out onto another busy street. Kanyon quickly looked right and left. “No freaking way!” She grabbed Daylen’s arm. “Come on. Down there!”
Kanyon stopped just outside a storefront and gave a quick jerk of her head toward the sign painted on the window. “You ready for this?” Daylen looked around Kanyon. “Mighty Mike’s Comics.”
“Hope Saturday is their busy day,” Daylen responded.
“Hopefully,” Kanyon said as she looked over Daylen’s head to see their two pursuers come to a halt in the crowd, darting their heads back and forth. Kanyon ducked and turned Daylen to the entrance of the store.
They walked in, scanned the area, and knew they’d lucked out. Saturday was a busy day. Not like “new-iPhone-coming-out-at-the-Apple-store” kind of busy, but Kanyon guessed there were at least thirty sets of eyes, bugged out, and staring at her and Daylen.
Kanyon roamed over the frozen crowd, looking for one particular geek. The store’s occupants remained completely motionless. Daylen leaned toward Kanyon and whispered out of the side of her mouth. “This is almost scarier than the two guys chasing us.”
In the silence, they heard a toilet flush from the back of the store and a few seconds later the geek Kanyon was looking for emerged from the back hallway. Theo walked out still ringing his hands as if drying them. He halted suddenly as he acknowledged the motionless room. “Guys?” he asked tentatively. No one moved. No one responded. “Holy crap. What the heck happened? Was there a freeze ray?” Theo walked over to a frozen geek and shook him lightly by the shoulder. “A demobilizing laser?” He waved a hand in front of the guy’s face. “An alien control device?” Theo reeled through the possibilities of what could have caused this motionless phenomenon.
“Theo!” Kanyon yelled.
Theo sighed in relief. “Shoo, it’s just women. Hey, I thought you guys were going to call me and we’d go see the horses and have a picnic?”
Kanyon and Daylen headed in Theo’s direction. Feeling guilty at the disappointment on Theo’s face, Daylen jumped in quickly. “Yeah, Theo. Sorry. We’ve just had a couple of busy weeks. But that’s why we’re here. Right, Kanyon?”
Crap, not exactly my plan. “Yep, horses, picnic,” she said feigning enthusiasm. She glanced over her shoulder, recognizing she and Daylen were still visible if the goon squad decided to look through the front windows of the store. “We thought we’d surprise you. Come here and sign some autographs for your friends first.”
“Cool. But how’d you know I was here?” Theo questioned.
Kanyon just tapped her temple in answer.
“Riiigght.” He gave an exaggerated wink and tapped his own temple in the same knowing gesture. “Got ya. You guys are the best! I’ll be the coolest guy–”
Kanyon spun Theo, moving him toward the rear of the store. “Yeah, definitely the coolest guy here, for sure. Now go wake your buddies from their creepy little stare-fest and we’ll go sit at the back table,” Kanyon instructed as she pushed past him, leading Daylen away from the front windows.
Seconds later Kanyon and Daylen were hidden behind a geek wall. They signed autographs for an hour while Theo stood next to them, announcing his new “BFF” status to everyone in line. When every Dark Savior comic book, figurine box and item in the store was signed, Kanyon checked to make sure the coast was clear. “I think we’re all good.”
“Picnic time?” Theo asked excitedly.
Kanyon opened her mouth, already prepared with an excuse, but closed it again when Daylen jumped in.
“I could eat,” Daylen answered quickly, knowing she
couldn’t be alone with Kanyon just yet. Her body was still humming from the closeness in the alley.
Kanyon shot a pleading look at Daylen and got a big grin in response. Kanyon sighed. “Fine. Picnic time.”
They crossed the street to Theo’s mobile eyesore, which Kanyon had spotted over the crowded street earlier. Grabbing the handle to the back door, which had “Dark Savior Rocks” stenciled on it, she was slightly regretting the directional choice she’d made in their flight from the two goons. She probably could’ve taken them with minimal physical damage, but she wasn’t exactly sure if she could recover from another ride in the Geekmobile.
Kanyon gave him directions to her vehicle. Fearing their two pursuers were sitting on her car waiting for them, they parked in an adjacent lot where they could also wait and observe. Five minutes with no signs and twenty-five Theo stories later, Kanyon and Daylen bailed out of the car desperate to escape Theo’s incessant chatter. “I’m going to get my car,” Kanyon announced, slamming her door.
“Kanyon, wait. What if–”
Kanyon cut her off with an exhausted glare. “What if I stay in there?” She pointed at Theo. “My ears hurt.”
“But–”
“I’ll be fine. You two can watch from here. If I get into any trouble you can come to the rescue. I’ll meet you at the grocery store down the street and we’ll get our picnic stuff.” Kanyon started to turn away, stopped, and looked down at the ground. “Could you maybe talk to him about dialing back the Dark Savior references? I’m not … you know. I’m me … just me and I don’t deserve … I mean, she was good and …”
“Of course.” She stepped forward and laid a hand on Kanyon’s arm. “There’s a lot more good than there is bad. Remember that too, okay?”
Kanyon looked up, met Daylen’s eyes, and saw the soft smile on her lips. “A lot of good?”
Daylen gave Kanyon’s arm a comforting squeeze. “A lot of good,” she agreed with a wink. “Please be careful. If you see any signs of them, turn back, yell or whatever and we’ll come get you.”