Stand-in: Take 3 of the Kanyon and Daylen Series

by K. B. Draper

  Daylen chuckled. “Yeah. I think so.”

  “The burn was …” Kanyon trailed off wanting Daylen to clarify her own thoughts.

  “Well, since I felt the sensation when I let down my shields, I’m guessing it was like remnants of his emotions? Maybe?”

  “Like the smell left after someone farts and walks away?” Kanyon offered.

  Daylen chuckled. “So, what you’re saying is you think I can sense emotional farts? Well, color me the powerful superhero.”

  “Better than a super villain whose powers are super farts.”

  “That’s true. There are always worse things, I guess.”

  “Speaking of super villains, what did Ruby say about Captain Blue Balls this morning?”

  “I tried to call her again, but she still isn’t answering.”

  Kanyon and Daylen both turned as someone yelled, “Two minutes.”

  Kanyon hitched a thumb at the set. “I gotta go.”

  “Right. You need to go,” Daylen said.

  “What’re you going to do?”

  “I’ll find Theo and Blue, see if either one of them has heard anything. Then I’ll probably just do some more snooping around,” Daylen offered.

  “Take Ralph, just in case.”

  “Sure, no problem. It’s been five minutes so he’s probably hungry again anyway.”

  Kanyon lifted Daylen’s hand to her lips and gave her palm a soft kiss. “Be careful.”

  Daylen sighed in longing as Kanyon strode away. “How did I ever think I could live without you?” Daylen whispered to herself while absently rubbing her palm and the kiss Kanyon had placed there.

  Daylen started for the trailer only to come to an abrupt stop. A tidal wave of envy and hatred blindsided her and pitched her forward. She was fighting to right herself, to breathe under the weight of emotions that threatened to drown her, when Ralph appeared at her side. She used him to balance herself enough to catch a gulp of air.

  “Holy cra–” Daylen winced as another jolt of emotion hit her. Ralph leaned into her offering stability as she fought to put her shields the rest of the way up.

  Ralph’s presence didn’t power her shields like Kanyon’s touch did, but his support helped steady her. She knelt next to him and rubbed his ear as she caught her breath. “Thank you. I needed a little assistance.” She glanced around, searching for whoever had projected so much emotion. “You have any ideas?” she asked as she steadied her breathing and stroked his fur. Ralph lowered his head and growled in the direction of a double set of trailers.

  Daylen stood and Ralph took a protective stance in front of her. “Looks like I have two Guardians.” Daylen gave Ralph another appreciative pat on his hindquarter. “Let’s go see what we can find.”

  A search of the area came up fruitless. “Long gone, I take it?” she asked Ralph when she noticed his stance relax. “Alright. Let’s go check on Theo and Blue.” Ralph took off in the direction of the food table. “Or get a deli sandwich.”

  With Ralph’s stomach full, at least for the moment, they set out in search of Blue, finding her in the makeup trailer. She was finishing up a simple bruise and bloody lip. When the guy, one of Kanyon’s soon to be on screen victims, was gone, Blue dropped down in front of Ralph.

  “Hey, Big Guy. How’s my boy? You miss me? Come to see me?” she asked face to face with the dog, rubbing both ears in her hands.

  Daylen hadn’t ever seen Blue so openly affectionate. She stood in amused disbelief as Blue’s voice pitched up another octave to a tone that was dangerously close to a mother cooing over her baby.

  Blue caught herself, remembered Daylen’s presence, and stood abruptly. “What?”

  “Nothing. Nothing at all,” Daylen replied, the smile evident in her voice.

  “Whatever.” Blue growled, dismissing Daylen as she started tiding up her workstation.

  “Things going okay?”

  “Yeah, I guess,” Blue answered as she sorted her brushes and tools.

  “You hear about anything weird going on?”

  “Not really. Some of the girls were talking about the two losers that are M.I.A. Saying it’s sad that Cody ran off with whatever her name is, being he was so crushable.”

  “Crushable?”

  “I guess the guy is some hottie or something.”

  Daylen remembered her quick peek at Cody through Kanyon’s window. The guy was not bad looking, but crushable? “Anything else?”

  “Not really.” Blue dropped the now clean brushes back on her tray and began to organize them. “Now they’re lusting after some other guy.”

  “You get a name?”

  “No. I think he’s in lighting or something.”

  “You make a pretty good undercover agent.” Daylen gave Blue’s arm a quick squeeze. “Thanks.” She was a little surprised when she noticed Blue didn’t flinch. Maybe Katherine, Kanyon or … she looked down at Ralph, or Ralph was starting to melt her little ice princess’ heart. She moved to the door, remembering the emotions that had nearly overtaken her. “Blue, please be careful.”

  “Sure thing, Smother-upagus,” Blue retorted.

  Or not, Daylen thought as she shut the door. She looked around, not sure where to start. She patted Ralph’s head. “I guess we’ll just wander around and see if we find a flock of women swooning over some new guy.”

  Daylen found Theo five minutes later, exiting a backstage storage unit with a lasso of extension cords loading down each shoulder. “Theo!” Theo tripped over a cord end that was dangling too close to the ground. Daylen caught him by the back collar of his shirt and steadied him. “Careful.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem. How are you doing?”

  His eyes lit with excitement. “I’m totally cool. I’m working in special effects. Well, I’m running and getting stuff for the special effects guys, but it’s still totally cool.”

  “I’m glad you’re having a good time.” Daylen scooped up the cord that was still dangling dangerously close to his feet. “You see anything or hear anything suspicious?”

  “Nah. The only thing I’ve been hearing is Hey newbie, go fetch us this. Hey newbie, we need ya to go grab us that.”

  “Any women or men seem particularly umm, into each other?”

  “I don’t know. The guys are cool. The women are … I mean, they seem nice.” He shrugged a weighted shoulder.

  “Okay. Just keep your ears and eyes open.”

  “Will do. You can count on me.”

  “You know what time you’ll be done? I’ll give you a ride back to the office.”

  “Not yet, but you go ahead. The guys asked me to hang with them after work. We’re going for some beers and babes.” He gave her an eye wiggle. “I’ve never gone for beers and babes before.”

  Daylen had to laugh. “Well, you go get ‘em, tiger. Just be careful and give me a call if you need a ride, okay?”

  “Will do. See ya, Daylen. Later, Ralph,” Theo stated as he bounced off the edge of a storage box, tripped, then stumbled off with three feet of cord following in his wake.

  Ralph and Daylen wandered the outskirts of the movie set. They were shooting, so there wasn’t a lot of mingling going on. Daylen didn’t see, hear, or sense anything more as they walked around. Ralph, on the other hand, had sensed jelly donuts, two corndogs, and a bag of chips.

  Back at Kanyon’s trailer, Daylen called her aunt. Again. And again, no answer. “Weird.” She was still staring at the blank screen as she dropped down next to Ralph on the couch. “She always answers.” She leaned back against the pillows only to have her thoughts interrupted by the faint smell of perfume. She straightened, sniffed the air, the pillow, then Ralph, then the pillow again. She stood abruptly, dropping the pillow back on the couch. She knew Kanyon’s scent and it was not the same scent that was teasing her senses. Images of Lexi and Kanyon on the couch filled her mind.

  Ralph looked at her curiously.

  “I need to go.” Ralph started to get off the couch. “No,
you stay. I need to …” she thought quickly, “go to the police station and check in with Lt. Boston.” Daylen caught herself, realizing she was explaining her sudden get up and go to a dog. “Tell Kanyon I’ll call her later.” Ralph dropped his head on the couch, his concern communicated with a soft whimper. She stepped to him and gave him a pat. “I made the bed,” she gritted her teeth, “and now I just have to learn to deal with the fact that Lexi laid in it.” She forced the thoughts from her mind. “Want a sandwich before I go?”

  Lexi watched the dog and Daylen at the catering table. “You get the little gift I left you, Daylen?” Lexi smirked then smiled widely as she felt someone come up behind her.

  “Why am I not surprised to find you lurking in the shadows, Lexi?” a man’s low husky voice asked.

  Lexi turned, her best seductive smile already in place. “Well, hello, tall, dark, and evil,” she purred, a hand already snaking up his chest.

  The man dropped the hood of his cloak and Lexi let out a soft whimper of desire as she looked into his smoke grey eyes and took in his unnaturally handsome face. She raked her fingertips along the scruff of his beard, let them wander to trace an earlobe, then run through thick, raven black hair.

  He caught her wrist. “How easy your affections are transferred from one to another.”

  Lexi gave him a sultry pout. “Goes with the role of seductress villain, don’t you think?”

  “And how is your seduction coming?”

  Lexi stepped away to take another look. “Daylen has reappeared. But no worries, I separated them once before. I can do it again.”

  “Together they are–”

  Lexi flipped a backward hand. “They’re more powerful, blah, blah.” Lexi watched Daylen for a moment. “No worries,” she smiled, “I’ll have Kanyon back under my thrall soon.” She pressed herself against him. “However, I was wondering …” she traced a finger up his neck and down the strong cut of his jaw to his lips, “what exactly does a girl have to do to get another little bobble?”

  He quirked the edge of his lip as he slid a hand around her waist and pulled her closer. “You do not think I have already given you enough?” He lifted the pendant that dangled between her breasts and examined it. “Helen of Troy wore this and she brought two nations to war.”

  Lexi closed a protective hand over the necklace. “It is quite magnificent and has brought me a lot of …” she purred her next words, “good times. But I think something new might help. Mix up the cocktail a little, if you know what I mean. Serve up something a little more potent.”

  “The only reason the pendant would not be effective is if one’s heart is not open for influence.”

  “Yeah, well. I was hoping for something to kink things up a bit and eliminate the short, annoying blonde from the equation for good.”

  He stared into her eyes for a long moment before a sardonic grin rose to his lips. “I can see we chose wisely when we selected you. I will see what I can do about your request.” He took Lexi’s chin in his palm. “Accomplish this and the power you crave will be yours.” He kissed her, then vanished in a swirling cloud of black smoke.

  Lexi watched Daylen, who was now kneeling by her mangy mutt. “This time, blondie, I’ll not only hurt, but I’ll completely destroy your girlfriend.”

  Chapter 10

  With Ralph tucked back into Kanyon’s trailer, Daylen headed for the police station to check in with Lt. Boston and drop in on her Uncle Jack. Something more easily done now that she knew he’s alive.

  Daylen still didn’t know all the dirty details but she did know that her Aunt Ruby and Uncle Jack still cared for each other. And if Isadora was correct, which she always was, there was no reason they couldn’t be together. Or no reason besides her Aunt Ruby. And no, the irony was not lost on her that she had done to Kanyon exactly what her aunt had done to Jack. They both had tried to protect the ones they love. And yes, if she had to admit it, she felt bad for Jack because in the end his punishment for trying to protect the one he loved, was to lose everything. “Way too much irony,” she grumbled, as she pulled into the police station.

  Daylen parked, shut off the engine, and sat there for a long moment, staring at nothing as she thought. Aunt Ruby nosed into my love life, relentlessly pushing me to fix things with Kanyon. Things were not completely fixed, but they seem to be on the mend, so maybe it’s just about time to return the favor. “Turnabout is fair game,” she proclaimed, unfastening her seatbelt and deciding she would add a little match making to her agenda.

  Having become a somewhat regular at the police department, Daylen wasn’t delayed at the front desk, getting a wave through security, and was shown up to see Captain Jack Laine.

  Her uncle stood with a wide smile when she lightly rapped on his open door. “Ah, to what do I owe the pleasure of such a beautiful woman at my door?” He stepped around the desk, gave her a quick kiss on her forehead, then offered her one of the chairs in front of his desk. “Here, sit.” He patted the back of the chair.

  “Thought I’d come by and say hi before I went to see Lt. Boston.” She took a seat. “Thanks for the help this morning on the set. They’re trying to keep a low profile.”

  “Not the first time. We’ll do what we can, for as long as we can.”

  “Thank you. I take it Lt. Boston has given you the run down?”

  “As much as she has, which doesn’t sound like a whole lot at this point. She’s playing the drug dealer, gambling angle right now.” He circled an index finger in her direction. “But I’m thinking, since you’re involved, that’s probably not the case?”

  “No. But I don’t have a whole lot either. Aunt Ruby isn’t able to give me much to go on this time.” Daylen noticed Jack’s posture change when she mentioned her aunt’s name. She smiled to herself. “Do you still love her? I mean, before you said¬–”

  “I, ah …” Jack stood abruptly and moved to close his office door. When he returned to his desk he paced versus resuming his seat. “That’s–”

  “Simple yes or no would do.”

  He let out a quick laugh. “Daylen, nothing is simple when it comes to your aunt.”

  Daylen let out her own laugh. “True. But let’s pretend for a moment it is. Yes, you still love her? No, you don’t?”

  He stopped pacing and met Daylen’s eyes. “Yes. From the first day I met her, to this day, and every day in between I could give you that same answer.”

  Daylen grinned widely. “Good to know,” she replied as she rose.

  “Oh, no you don’t.” He pointed at the chair. “Put your butt right back down in that seat. You can’t come in here and interrogate me like that. I’m the Captain of this department, over investigations no less. I have a reputation to uphold.” He pushed aside a stack of files that was taking up residency on the corner of his desk so he could sit directly in front of his niece. “I have a few questions of my own.”

  Daylen dropped back into her chair. “About the case?” she asked hopefully.

  “No.” He smirked and she gulped audibly. “Why were you on Kanyon’s movie set?”

  “There was a case.”

  “The case was the only reason you were there?”

  Daylen diverted her eyes. “Don’t you have to read me my rights or something?”

  “I’m going old school detective on you.” He unclipped a pen light from his chest pocket, clicked it with a thumb, and shined it playfully across her face. “Don’t make me get out my big, thick phone book. Spill.”

  Daylen chuckled and swatted at the beam of light. “Fine. I might’ve come to see the error of my ways. Ish. Kind of. And maybe it opened up a possibility for me to ask if she would … umm …” she looked down, flattening her now wringing hands against her jeans, “you know, work with me again.”

  He smiled. “I take it things went okay?”

  Daylen nodded. “Things are going to be okay, I think.”

  Jack stood and reached down to pull his niece up into a hug. “Good. Just give it some tim
e and I’m sure things will turn out very okay.”

  Daylen tightened her hold on her uncle, then leaned back. “Advice that could go both ways.”

  He gave her a tight smile, pulled her back to him for another hug, then released her. “You better get to investigating. I’ll call Lt. Boston and tell her you’re here.”

  “Thank you.” Daylen said softly.

  With the phone receiver in hand, he looked up from the keypad. “Daylen?”

  “Yeah?”

  “What do you think Ruby’s answer would be?” he asked softly.

  Not needing him to clarify, she replied, “Since the day she met you, until today, and every day in between.”

  He stiffened, gave her a brisk nod, then began dialing.

  Daylen found Lt. Boston in her office. She rapped on the door with a knuckle. “Lieutenant?”

  Lt. Boston spun from the window, a phone pressed to her ear. She waved Daylen in, pointing for her to take a seat.

  As Daylen waited for the lieutenant to finish her conversation, she looked around, realizing she didn’t really know anything about the cop. The woman was neat. Books, all law enforcement related, were lined tallest to shortest on the shelves. There were no knickknacks, no vacation memorabilia, no framed photos of kids or family. The only décor was three neatly framed newspaper articles, all from the crime section of the local paper. A shelf ran underneath, which held a shadow box with a half dozen service ribbons, all neatly arranged and pinned to black felt. Next to the box were four marble plaques with bronze engraved plates affixed to the front that read “Distinguished Marksman - Perfect Score” then dated for each year of accomplishment. Daylen had a feeling Lt. Boston hadn’t just recently become a good shot but that was all the awards, in a long history of awards, that could fit on the shelf. The last six inches were reserved for the only photograph in the room. Daylen leaned closer to see who held the honor. It was a photo of a much younger Lt. Boston in her dress blues with a smiling older man in a military buzz cut, his arm around the newly badged officer.