by Wendy Vella
“No.”
“Rummer is five hours away, you can’t simply drive me there!”
“I have to get some meds for Dad. Now’s as good a time as any.”
“I’m not driving with you for five hours. Now let me go!”
“Why? Scared you’ll jump me again?”
Piper actually spluttered. “I-I can’t believe you said that.”
“Sure you can. Let’s go.”
She was walked down the step. Dylan towed her across the street to where his Range Rover sat. Opening the door, he motioned her inside.
“Get in and I’ll drive you. This will get you to Rummer quicker anyway.”
“No.”
“Yes.” He picked her up and lowered her onto the seat.
“Dylan, stop this!”
The door shut, and then he was sprinting around the hood to the driver side. Piper was stunned by his actions, and it took her precious seconds to respond. By the time she had the door open he was in the driver seat.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Driving you to Rummer, so shut the door.”
“You can’t!”
“Sure I can. Want to see my license?”
“B-but, you don’t.... I mean, why do you want to help me?”
He flashed her a gentle smile that made her sniff back the tears.
“I’m trying out something new, it’s called getting in touch with your emotions.”
“What?”
“Do you need anything before we leave Ryker?”
“How the hell do I know, my brain is all over the place?”
“I’ll take that as a no then.”
Had all her wits not been scrambled she would never have found herself heading out of Ryker Falls seated next to Dylan Howard minutes later.
Joanie’s dead.
“Want to tell me what’s going on?”
She looked at the large hands that held the steering wheel and tried to focus, tried to force the sickening pain inside her aside.
Joanie’s dead.
“Talk to me, Piper. For all you think the opposite, I’m a good guy, I promise. No criminal record, and I like small children and animals. Okay, maybe I’m an emotional void, but like I said, I’m working on that and building relationships with my sisters. Plus, there’s that hot, amazing sex we shared. That’s got to buy me something.”
It was the mention of children that got her. Seconds later she was sobbing uncontrollably.
She heard Dylan swear softly, and then pull off the road. He released her seat belt, then lifted her into his lap.
“It’s okay.” He held her close, running a hand down her hair. Soothing, reassuring. It was bliss to be held this way when her insides were in turmoil. Her oldest friend had died. “Sssh, now.”
When the tears started to ease, Piper just lay against his broad chest and rested. Her heart hurt, but the release felt good. Whatever she was about to face, she needed to do so with her head on straight, and crying had helped steady her.
“Want to tell me what’s going on now?”
The rumble of his voice against her cheek made her look up. Concern darkened his blue eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“I don’t usually fall apart like that.”
He touched her cheek, the contact light, but she felt it.
“Everyone falls apart now and again. No man, or woman, is an island.”
She managed to tilt her lips into a smile before easing upright and back into her seat. He belted her in, and then they were on the road again.
“Joanie was my best friend before I came to Ryker. We shared everything, and most often she stayed with me and Mom. We helped each other through some pretty tough times. When I left she was eleven, two years younger than me, and had settled into a nice foster home and things were going well. We made a vow to stay in contact, and saw each other every month or two.”
“Good that you stayed in touch.”
“It was. We shared everything, and then one day she hooked up with this guy called Jace.”
“I’m guessing things started to slide after that?”
Piper sighed. “They did. He got her back into drugs and alcohol. I tried to straighten her out so many times. Even brought her to Ryker, and she seemed happy there, and then he lured her back.”
“When the drugs get their hooks into you, it takes a strong person to walk away, Piper.”
“I know that, and Joanie had kicked the habit, but she’d always been vulnerable. Maybe because she’d never really had anyone to call her own but me, and even then I had the others. I think Jace was someone she wanted just for her.”
“It’s usually the weak that assholes prey on.”
“I saw her that day I first met you in the diner, and while she said she wasn’t using I had my doubts. But Grace looked happy, and I thought Joanie looked better too so I let it go.”
“Grace?”
“Her one-year-old daughter.”
Dylan remained silent, but his face told the story.
“I got a call just before I ran into you today. Joanie was found dead from an overdose.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“And you’re going to identify the body?”
Dylan shot the woman huddled in her seat a look. The minute he’d looked into her eyes after she’d barreled into him outside Phil’s Place, he’d known something was very wrong. He’d seen enough people in her state to understand she was in shock.
He’d been avoiding her ever since that day he’d told her about not using a condom, but today he’d decided to go to Phil’s Place for a coffee, just to see how he reacted to her. Looking at her now, he realized that he’d probably always react to this woman. She was hot, sexy, and smart. A lethal combination. But right now she needed his support, so he’d give her that.
“You been at work, or drinking coffee?”
“Work.”
Which he knew, but he was trying to get her talking. Her eyes were staring straight ahead, focused but not. Hair was in a tail down her back, and the shirt she wore was too lightweight for the conditions. No hat, or scarf, no jacket; she’d just run when she got that call.
“Here.” He handed her a sweater from the back seat. “It’s cold and you came out without one.”
“But you’ll need it.”
“I have one on, and a jacket, so I’m sweet.”
“I’m sorry about this, Dylan.”
“All good. Now tell me about the child. What will happen with her?”
“I’m her guardian.”
Dylan didn’t know what to say to that, because if that was the case, Piper’s life had just changed beyond recognition.
“Joanie asked me because Grace’s father is dangerous, and there’s no one else. I... I didn’t think she would....”
“It’s okay, let’s get there and we can work everything out.”
“You can just drop me, and I’ll figure it out. Then call the others, they’ll come as soon as they can.”
“Where are your family?”
“They went to a horse sale in Bay Springs and aren’t due back till tomorrow.”
Bay Springs was a day’s drive to Ryker, so that would be a day and half to Rummer. Dylan didn’t do personal stuff. He rarely put himself out for people, and never got involved where he could avoid it, and yet since he’d returned to Ryker all that had changed. He was being changed one layer at a time, and right now he was the only support this woman had.
“You want to call Joe?”
“I will when I get there, but it’ll take them a while to reach me. In fact, I doubt he can make it till morning, so I won’t make contact until I know what’s happening.”
She fell silent and he looked at her again, saw the tears falling, silently this time. It hurt inside his chest to see her in pain.
“All right. We’ll deal with whatever is waiting, Piper, so don’t start building scenarios inside your head. That’ll just make it hurt.�
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“Easier said than done.” She brushed the tears from her cheeks. “And this is my problem, not yours.”
“From where I’m sitting it looks like you need a friend, and I’m putting up my hand until a better option steps up.”
“You told me you don’t get close enough to form friendships, so if this is because we...”
“Had hot, orgasmic sex in the shower?”
“Right, that,” she said, looking uncomfortable.
“You think I feel like I should do this because of that?”
“No... maybe.”
It pissed him off she felt that way. Sure, she didn’t really know him, but still, it hurt just a little that she believed he’d do this because they’d had sex, and not because she was a... well, he guessed “friend” was what he was thinking. And then there was Joe. He owed that man a great deal, but more than that, he knew this was the right thing to do because Joe couldn’t.
“Okay, I know you don’t know me well, except that I’m really good in bed... or in the shower as the case may be. But throw me a bone here, I’m trying, and I really do want to be your friend today, Piper, if you’ll let me.”
She made a small snuffling sound like a puppy. Piper was hurting, and scared, and that made something well up inside him. A protectiveness he now felt when he looked at his sisters.
“Okay.”
“Just okay?”
“Just okay. Now tell me about your work, Dylan.”
She wanted to focus on him so she didn’t have to focus on what was waiting for her when they reached Rummer.
“I can’t tell you too much or I’d have to kill you.”
“Ha.”
“Or take you somewhere and lock you in a cabin so you were totally reliant on me for everything.”
“I’d escape.”
“It would be impenetrable, and only I’d have a key to the door, which would be barred on the outside.”
“Would the bed be soft?”
“Big and soft.”
Her sigh rolled up his spine.
“I could sleep for a week about now.”
“Is dreaming about me keeping you awake, sweetheart?”
“Your ego is as big as Jack’s.”
“Ouch, even I know his reputation around Ryker.”
“So, tell me about your work.”
He did, telling her things that would interest or amuse her, but not the dark side. No one needed to hear about the twisted and unbalanced minds he’d come across in his time as a profiler.
Piper leaned on the door, listening and watching him. Offering the occasional comment, or question, and then she fell silent as her eyes closed. She looked soft and approachable sleeping. Her lovely body still, those eyes hidden from him.
He woke her as they pulled into the police station. Stopping the car, he released his belt and leaned over. She hadn’t moved; hands pillowing her head, she slumbered deeply.
“Piper.” He touched a soft, warm cheek. “You need to wake up now, honey.”
She woke slowly, eyes opening first. They turned and found him inches away.
“Hey.”
“Hey yourself,” he said, moving in to brush a kiss over her cheek. “We’re here.”
“Oh God.” The eyes closed again, then opened. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sleep that long.”
“I like silence when I drive, and you needed the sleep, so don’t worry about it.”
“You don’t plan on having children then is my guess,” she said, stretching. Her body curved backward in the seat, long arms reaching up. His sweater swam on her, and he liked seeing it on her, which was wrong, but he couldn’t stop how he felt. “Because they never shut up, which I guess I’m about to experience.”
“Small steps, Piper.”
She exhaled slowly.
“Let’s go.”
“I got this, thanks, Dylan. You go on and get your dad’s meds and head back to Ryker.”
“I thought we’d covered this off already. Today I’m being your friend.”
She flipped down the visor and studied her reflection. Then opening her bag, she dug out a brush and tugged it through her hair. Lastly she slicked gloss on that lovely mouth.
“You ready now, or you got a change of clothes in there? Not that I’d have a problem with you changing clothes in my car.”
She closed her bag and looked at him. Her eyes were clearer, but he saw the anxiety.
“Look, Dylan, thanks for driving me here and being nice... really. I realize now I was in no state to do it myself. So thanks, but I can take this from here.”
“I do nice,” he felt the need to protest.
“You’re definitely learning to do nice,” she qualified. “You need to practice a bit harder with your sisters, but I think you have the makings of a fine older brother.”
“Thanks.” For some reason her words meant a lot to him. “Now shut up and let’s go.”
“Dylan—”
“Enough, Piper. Let me be a gentleman for the brief time I have it in me. Tomorrow, it’s likely I’ll be back to the surly bastard I was.”
She studied him and no doubt battled between pride and a need for his support. Her nod was brief.
“Okay, let’s do this.”
“Atta girl.”
Dylan got out and met her on the pavement, holding out a hand. She didn’t hesitate, slipping hers inside and gripping his tight.
“You need a minute?”
“No, I have to do this for Joanie and Grace. I need to get to that little girl and let her know she’s not alone.”
He led her up the ramp and inside the building. Piper asked to see Lieutenant Heath, the man who had contacted her. Then they sat and waited. As far as waiting rooms went it wasn’t as bad as some he’d sat in. Dylan kept her hand in his, balancing it on his thigh, and wondered if Piper realized she was leaning into him.
“Miss Trainer?”
Dylan and Piper looked up as a middle-aged man entered. Average height, with gray hair cut short, he was dressed in a shirt and tie.
“Yes.”
They got to their feet as Piper answered him.
“Come this way.”
She gripped his fingers hard.
“I’m here,” Dylan said as he followed her through the door. They were led to an office and then asked to sit again. Lieutenant Heath sat behind the desk.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Miss Trainer.”
“Thank you. Can you tell me where Grace is?”
“She’s on her way here now with a social worker.”
Piper nodded.
“A neighbor found a note under her door this morning, stating she needed to come to Joanie’s apartment as she was ill. She called the building’s manager to open the door when no one answered, and they found Miss Prentice dead. It was an overdose. The baby was in her cot playing with her toys.”
“She told me she’d st-stopped.”
“When did you last see her?”
Dylan sat silently listening, watching. He was good at that, had been trained to observe. Piper answered the questions the man asked her, and while he was direct, Lieutenant Heath was never forceful or aggressive. Had he been, Dylan would have stepped in.
“Can you tell me anything about her boyfriend, Miss Trainer?”
“I only know him as Jace.”
“You ever meet him?”
“Once. I called in to see Joanie and Grace and he was there. I didn’t like him.”
“Why?”
“He watched me, and was always ordering Joanie about, controlling her. She was like his puppet; it was hard to watch.”
Lieutenant Heath took a picture off his desk and showed it to her.
“Is this him?”
Dylan had seen plenty of these types of pictures. Gaunt-looking people with big eyes and pale, pockmarked skin. Hair lank, with empty-eyed stares.
“That’s him.”
The man nodded and scratched something on the paper before him.
“We found his body three days ago in a house that is well known for selling drugs, Miss Trainer.”
“I shouldn’t say I’m happy about that, but I am,” Piper said. “But did Joanie know he was dead?”
“We believe she did, because we found something in the child’s diaper bag, a note addressed to you. I’m sure you will understand that we had to open it.”
Piper managed a jerky nod.
“We believe she took her life deliberately, Miss Trainer.”
“Oh, Joanie.”
Dylan leaned in and wrapped an arm around Piper when she made a noise that sounded like a wounded animal.
“Are you willing to identify Miss Prentice’s body, as she has no next of kin, Miss Trainer?”
“Are you sure there’s no one else?” Dylan spoke for the first time. He’d seen his share of bodies, and didn’t want that memory for Piper, especially not of her friend. It would be a lasting one, and one that would stick with her forever.
“I’m afraid not.”
“I need to do this for her, Dylan.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t let you do that.”
“I’ve seen dead bodies, she hasn’t. I’m going with her.”
Lieutenant Heath’s eyes ran over Dylan.
“I’m a profiler with the FBI.”
“No way.” The man sat back in his chair. “Must be a hell of a job, I’ve always thought, and not always in a good way.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Dylan said.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
They walked into the morgue together, and Joanie’s shrouded body was pulled out for Piper to identify.
“One look, Piper. Just keep it brief then walk away,” Dylan told her.
Her nod was jerky, and she still had his fingers in a viselike grip. They walked forward together and the cover was pulled back. The moan of pain that came from Piper knifed through Dylan.
The woman on the bed was tiny. Soft, mousy brown hair, fine bone structure. Eyes sunken, and Dylan could easily see the ravages drugs had inflicted upon her.
“Oh, Joanie.”
Piper reached out a hand and touched her friend’s hair. She started to move, leaning over, so Dylan lowered the arm he’d wrapped around her so she could place her lips on Joanie’s cheek.