Close-up: Take 1 of the Kanyon and Daylen Series

by K. B. Draper

  She picked up a picture which captured a fifty-ish woman with wild red hair and a look that exuded life, the same troublemaking persona of the squirming toddler. The woman also had an all-knowing intelligence and kindness that radiated from her smile and light, liquid-blue eyes. Daylen’s eyes. They reminded Kanyon of the clear waters of a Caribbean beach that made you want to dive in and soak up the pleasure. She shook off the thought as she replaced the photo.

  She skimmed over the other photos. Her eyes stopped on a picture which took her by surprise. The framed photo was tucked within the crop of family photos as if it belonged there. It was one of her and Daylen. It wasn’t one of the thousands of posed pictures they’d taken together, but rather a candid shot of the two of them. The photographer had caught them in a rare, casual, and somewhat intimate moment together. She had her arm draped over Daylen’s shoulder, looking down at Daylen with her infamous shit-eating grin. Daylen was looking back at her and was caught in mid-laugh, obviously at whatever she’d just said. Kanyon hadn’t allowed too many of these moments to occur between them and seeing that particular photo in the middle of Daylen’s family photos took her back. She was still holding the picture, staring at it, when Daylen cautiously opened the bedroom door.

  “I was ... I’m sorry. I was just looking at …” Kanyon trailed off, setting the picture back down.

  “Feeling better?” Daylen said, picking up the conversation.

  “Oh yeah, I’m good … better,” Kanyon corrected quickly, then stole another glance at the photo of them. “Daylen, I, I–”

  “You need something to eat. I have some breakfast made if you’re up for it,” Daylen interrupted.

  “Right. Yeah. That sounds good. Can I have a minute to use the restroom to freshen up first?” Kanyon asked, trying to buy another minute to collect her thoughts and prepare another apology.

  “Absolutely. Right through that door.” Indicating the door behind Kanyon. “I laid out a toothbrush and towels if you want to take a shower.”

  Kanyon lowered her gaze. “Thanks.”

  Kanyon came out a short time later, showered and wearing the robe Daylen left for her. Daylen glanced up at the sound of footsteps, a jolt of electricity ignited, shot through her body, and slammed into her heart. Kanyon stood with wet hair resting on her shoulders and tan skin exposed low in the v of the robe. Daylen had to force her feet to stay put and her eyes to turn back to the stove. “I, uhhh, cooked you …” she stared at the skillet for a second before her brain registered, “eggs, eggs. I cooked you some eggs. I also have some fruit and toast.”

  “That sounds amazing, thanks,” Kanyon replied as she slid into a chair.

  “Coffee or orange juice?” Daylen asked.

  “Orange juice. I don’t think my stomach can handle coffee just yet.”

  “Yeah, you had quite the day yesterday,” she replied, trying to laugh so it came across as no big deal.

  “Listen, Daylen, about that, I’m so sorry. Not just about yesterday, but about it all. I need you to know I’m not the same. I don’t dr–” Kanyon’s words died off as Daylen turned with a plate of food.

  “Kanyon, it’s okay.” She held the spatula up when she saw Kanyon’s mouth open to protest. “Stop. You don’t have to apologize or explain anything to me.”

  But she did. An apology was all she had to offer. She couldn’t walk out of Daylen’s life without at least that small thing done right. “I need to, want to ...”

  Daylen started to stop Kanyon again, but held back as she read the look in Kanyon’s eyes.

  “What I did was selfish. Irresponsible. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I didn’t mean to hurt you. You lost your job because of me and I can’t tell you how sorry I am. If there’s anything I can do to make it up to you, I’ll do it. I know I screwed up again yesterday, but you have to believe me, I’m not …” She followed Daylen’s eyes down to the table and realized she had apparently reached out and clasped Daylen’s hand. She retracted it quickly, thrown off by her actions. She looked down, searching for her words again. “I’m not …” Her eyes ran over the newspaper lying nearby, ‘Sidekick Now Saving the Hero?’. “… the same person,” Kanyon whispered, barely audible.

  Daylen flipped the newspaper over, irritated she had been so careless. “Kanyon, look at me.” She tried to distract Kanyon from staring at the overturned paper. She took Kanyon’s hand. “Look at me.”

  Kanyon raised her gaze slowly.

  “So, you messed up and I lost my job because of it, but I also got my life back. I’m happy now. Hollywood and that scene isn’t for me. The people were fake. They lie. They cheat. They use others. They’re selfish and they are–”

  “People like me,” Kanyon interrupted as she gently pulled her hand from Daylen’s grasp.

  “That’s not what I was saying, Kanyon.”

  “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anymore.” Kanyon gave a half grin. “Just know, I’m truly sorry.”

  Kanyon let silence fall between them as she pretended to eat her breakfast. Despite her discomfort, her earlier eagerness to leave, and now the knowledge of what Daylen thought of her, she had an overwhelming desire to stay. She couldn’t explain why, but something within her, deeper than the shame and remorse, wanted to stay with Daylen. It was probably just an ego thing, wanting to prove to Daylen she wasn’t really like the people she had described. Kanyon swallowed her pride. “So, you’re not planning to go back to acting?”

  “No, that part of my life is over,” Daylen said with a smile. “I learned a lot and it afforded me a lot of good opportunities, but I think I’ve finally found something I’m more suited for, and …”

  Kanyon watched Daylen as she spoke and she thought she saw true happiness. Daylen seemed to have found something that fulfilled and excited her. Kanyon couldn’t help but be curious and a little envious. She liked acting, but like Daylen, she didn’t necessarily like all that came with it. The only satisfaction she received was being someone else, if only for short periods of time, but acting definitely didn’t fill her with the light and passion she saw in Daylen’s eyes.

  “… is my place in life,” Daylen finished.

  “You look happy and I’m happy for you. Tell me more about this mystery job.”

  “Well, it’s kind of a family business. I work with my Aunt Ruby.” Daylen thought briefly about telling Kanyon the truth, but Aunt Ruby and I are part of an ancient bloodline of people called Seekers who have been born throughout the centuries with special gifts and the responsibility to use those gifts to find articles, relics, and/or people which have the potential to harm someone, humanity, disturb future events in some way, or simply need to be found to set the world back from being askew still sounded crazy, even to her. “We find things.”

  “Find things?” Kanyon asked skeptically.

  “Or people.”

  “Things or people? So, are you a metal detector or the back of a milk carton?” Kanyon joked.

  Daylen relaxed, enjoying that Kanyon appeared to, at least momentarily, be setting aside her guilt and regrets and settling back into their normal casual rapport. “More like a detective agency.”

  “You’re like Charlie’s Angels?”

  Daylen laughed. “Ish. Well, minus the bell-bottom jeans, feathered hair, Bosley, a millionaire that talks to us through a box, and we don’t always solve our cases in a one-hour time slot.”

  “Slackers.” Kanyon smiled. “So, finding things or people, this makes you happy?”

  “Yes,” Daylen replied as she stood and picked up their plates, taking them to the sink. “Very happy.”

  “Good. Then I’m glad I got you fired.” Kanyon smiled.

  “Me too,” Daylen returned with a laugh.

  “I guess I better get out of your hair and let you get to finding things or people. I’ll just change and call a taxi.”

  “No need for the taxi, I can give you a ride. I’m actually going in your direction.”

  “Okay.” She started for th
e bedroom then turned back. “Could I ask for one more small favor?”

  “Sure,” Daylen offered.

  “A shirt? Mine is a little, ahhh–”

  “Green? Yeah, I noticed and I don’t want to know. I’ll get you something.” Daylen said, following her into the bedroom.

  As Daylen searched through a drawer, Kanyon asked, “Are you going my direction for work or pleasure?”

  “Work.”

  “Hot leads in a big case?”

  Daylen pulled out a simple gray long sleeve shirt and got an approving nod from Kanyon. “Not a big case, but yeah I have to check out a couple of addresses for a guy I’m looking for.”

  “Got ya. Like Dog the Bounty Hunter kind of stuff. Cool.” Kanyon winked conspiratorially, holding out her hand for the shirt.

  “Not at all like Dog the Bounty Hunter.” Daylen chuckled and tossed the shirt playfully at Kanyon’s head.

  Kanyon and Daylen made idol conversation on their drive back to the convention center. When they fell silent, Daylen contemplated asking Kanyon about the rumors swirling around her the last few months. She really didn’t think it was her business, but the questions ate at her. She wanted to know just how or why Lexi had so much influence over Kanyon. Her heart flipped at a particular possibility and she suddenly thought maybe she really didn’t want to know. Her thoughts ended abruptly when her vision blurred and a wave of emotional energy hit her. She got a quick sense of fear and pain before she was able to guide her SUV to the side of the street.

  Kanyon spun in her seat, looking out all the windows for the cause of Daylen’s impromptu parking job. Seeing nothing obvious, she turned to Daylen whose eyes were fixed straight ahead in a distant stare. “Ahh, everything okay?” Kanyon asked hesitantly.

  Daylen closed her eyes. “Sorry, I just need a second.”

  “Daylen?” Kanyon laid a concerned hand on her shoulder only to jerk it back quickly when she felt a jolt of electric vibration run through her hand and up her arm. She rubbed her hands together, confused. The shock hadn’t really hurt, it surprised her. She was more worried about Daylen, who had lowered her forehead to the steering wheel.

  Daylen was having a hard time focusing on the images as they were only vague shapes. She wasn’t shocked by the visions, but they were a new experience for her, compounded by the discomfort of it happening in front of Kanyon. She forced herself to relax and clear her mind and slowly the images began to sharpen. She could make out a building or warehouse. She took in as many details as she could, knowing it was likely the vision would vanish as quickly as it came. When it was gone, she opened her eyes abruptly and began looking around at the buildings surrounding them, searching for the address. She found it, 227, in large blue numbers. “Are you in a hurry?” she asked Kanyon in a rush.

  “No. Why?”

  Daylen pointed at the building. “That’s one of the addresses I need to check out. It’ll only take a minute or two.”

  “Okay …” Kanyon stretched out the word, confused by Daylen’s actions. “Go for it. I’d like to see Daylen P.I. in action.” And I’d like to know what the heck just happened.

  Daylen drove around to the rear of the large tin-sided warehouse, parked alongside the far wall, and unhooked her seatbelt. “Okay, I’m going to leave the car running. I won’t be long.”

  “Whatever! I’m coming,” Kanyon argued, unlatching her own seatbelt. “I want to see you shake down someone, rough someone up, get the skinny, the lowdown, the word on the street.”

  “I’m not a 70’s street cop. Geez. There isn’t going to be any action to see. I’m just going to take a look around, see what I can see. Stay here and I’ll be right back.”

  “If there isn’t going to be any action then why can’t I just come with you?” Kanyon asked as Daylen got out.

  Daylen shut the door then leaned over to speak through the open window. “Because you haven’t been the best at staying out of trouble lately.”

  Kanyon couldn’t exactly argue the point, but it didn’t keep her from trying. “The likelihood there are any Stormtroopers, Conans, or Buffys in there is slim to none so …”

  “Stay here and behave,” Daylen ordered before she took off down the side of the building.

  “Fine.” Kanyon relented briefly then rolled her own window down and leaned out. “Just so you know, I liked it better when you were my slave girl and I was giving the orders,” she yelled.

  Daylen turned back with a grin. “And I liked it better when you were passed out and not talking.”

  “Rude!” Kanyon said with a scowl, crossing her arms in an exaggerated pout.

  Daylen’s smile widened and she gave Kanyon a playful wink before she started back down the side of the building. Kanyon’s pout changed to a quick grin. Though she’d kept Daylen at arm’s length, they always had an easy, playful banter between them. She hadn’t realized until now how much she missed it. She watched Daylen cautiously make her way between the two buildings, peek around a corner, then disappear. Well, she looks like she knows what she’s doing.

  Kanyon took her own survey of the area. The place was empty, no cars or people in sight. Weeds grew in the cracks of the pavement. A few pieces of paper had freed themselves from the overflowing trash containers and blew lazily in the wind toward the end of the lot. Kanyon couldn’t imagine what kind of information Daylen was going to receive from such a desolate place.

  She took another look around, finding nothing of interest, she laid her head back and closed her eyes to keep the sun from further irritating her hangover headache. She had almost drifted off to sleep when she felt a prickle at the back of her neck. She adjusted her head on the headrest, settled back in, and attempted to relax. This time a breeze flicked at her hair and tickled her ear. She bolted upright, quickly scanned the empty lot, and although she didn’t see anything she had an overwhelming sense that something was wrong. She tried to shake the feeling off, but it wouldn’t leave nor would it come into focus. She made another scan of the area. Nothing. Maybe she’d actually fallen asleep. Restless, she got out and stood in front of the vehicle. She listened hard as she searched the area. Uneasy, she paced as a sense of danger tugged at her thoughts. Daylen is in danger.

  She debated only briefly before taking two quick steps in the direction Daylen had gone when a large, balding man with a comb over and enough gold jewelry around his neck to drown a whale, came darting around the corner. She stopped as he continued to run directly at her, all hairy, sweating, and red-faced. She saw Daylen round the corner ten steps behind him. She had a busted lip with a small streak of red running from the right corner of her mouth. Kanyon’s blood went hot as she locked onto her target, squared her stance, lowering quickly as she did a sweeping leg strike to the guy’s shins. He dropped like a rock, face first to the ground, knocking him out cold. Kanyon stepped over him and caught Daylen by the shoulders as she came running up. She took a closer look at Daylen’s facial injuries. “What happened?” she asked as she wiped the blood away with her thumb. “You’re bleeding.”

  “I’m fine. I’m fine.” She shook out of Kanyon’s grasp. “Why’d you take out Lenny?” Thrusting a hand toward the open passenger door. “And why are you out of the car?” Daylen questioned through panting breaths. Not waiting for an answer, she bent down to help Lenny, who still had his face planted in the dirt.

  “You were chasing him. You were hurt. I thought he hit you and took off running,” Kanyon explained, confused as she knelt by Daylen who was attempting to wake Lenny up.

  “I wasn’t chasing him and he didn’t hit me.” They both turned toward the sounds of heavy footsteps and yelling. Two large men dressed in black suits turned the corner, running in their direction. “We were running from them!”

  “Is this what you call no action?” Kanyon asked as she scrambled around to grab under Lenny’s arm, dragging him toward Daylen’s SUV. Kanyon opened the rear door and jumped in while pulling Lenny with her as Daylen crammed the rest of him in.


  Successfully stuffed, Daylen slammed the door and jumped into the driver’s seat. She forwent her seatbelt and lunged across the car to shut the open passenger door. She wasn’t even upright before she threw her vehicle in reverse, just as a fist slammed onto her hood. Her tires spun, then finally catching purchase in the gravel, they shot backward, around the corner, and out into the street.

  Once they were in “D”, fleeing the scene, Kanyon pulled herself out from under the still unconscious Lenny.

  “I thought I told you to stay in the car?” Daylen asked when Kanyon dropped into the passenger seat.

  “I thought you said you were just collecting some information?” She hitched a thumb toward the back. “Not a three-hundred-pound guy with bad fashion sense and over active sweat glands.” She looked down at the sweat tracks his armpits and head left on her shirt.

  “Well, plans changed unexpectedly.”

  They fell silent for a few minutes as Daylen drove, glancing frequently in the rearview mirror.

  “What’s the story with the human hairball in the tacky Hawaiian shirt?” Kanyon finally asked.

  “That’s Lenny. His wife hires us every couple of months to find him and bring him home. Lenny’s got a bit of a gambling problem and every once in a while he owes people some money and they pick him up to collect it.”

  “I take it the two charming guys chasing you were the loan recovery department?”

  “Yeah.”

  A low moan came from the backseat and Lenny started to stir. A few seconds later he sat up, rubbing his forehead. “What the hell happened?”

  “You fell,” Daylen and Kanyon replied in unison.