From This Moment

by Vella, Wendy

  “And Charlie.”

  “What’s wrong with Charlie?”

  Hell why not? He’d already told her about Ava, and it felt good to talk things over with someone. She whistled when he’d finished.

  “It’s like open season on Howards at the moment, which is weird. I mean, stuff happens, I get that, but to four members of one family? You guys lucked out for sure.”

  “I know, it’s weird. Dad, Mom, Charlie, and now Ava. Every time I think about leaving, something keeps me here.”

  “Totally weird, but like I said, it happens.”

  “I guess. The friend I have looking into what’s going on with Charlie said that whoever is out to get her knows what they’re doing.”

  “Excellent, at least she’s being targeted by a talented asshole.”

  He snorted again.

  “Piper, what I’ve told you—”

  She made a zipper movement with her thumb and forefinger.

  “I won’t tell anyone.”

  They walked a while longer.

  “I don’t know what to do now,” he said honestly. It was a first for Dylan, because he always knew what to do. In his job he was in total control, but not here.

  “Well, you have someone looking into the business with Charlie, and your mom and dad are being cared for and will recover. I think you focus on Ava.”

  “I think Zander’s involved.”

  “No way. Really? I mean, he’s not my favorite person, but that’s because I can’t relate to him, but from what Ava’s tells me he genuinely cares for her.”

  “He’s close to her, how could he not know, Piper?”

  “I didn’t think about that, but I guess he could know. But we’ve all heard the stories about doctors, moms and dads, and everyday people who take cocaine and no one was aware of it.”

  “Yeah, I guess, but I think he knows, and maybe that’s because he’s a user too.”

  She stopped, then turned the stroller around.

  “Right, let’s go.”

  “Where?”

  “To the garage. You can talk to him now.”

  “I’m not taking you with me to do that,” Dylan protested.

  “Sure you are. I’m a mother now and need the stimulation, because most of the time I’m conversing with a one-year-old or my cousins, and let’s face it, not a hell of a lot of difference there.”

  “I’m telling them you said that.”

  “You can try but I’d deny it, and they’d believe me over you.”

  Dylan looked down at her. Her cheeks were pink from being outside in the cool weather.

  “We can’t just say to him, ‘Hey, Zander, are you selling drugs to my sister.’”

  She gave him a look that had him wanting to grab her and kiss her senseless.

  “Obviously. We’re just going to see him and have a casual chat. You’re then going to ask him if Ava has been sick before, because they’ve found stuff in her blood results.”

  “You’re pushy, you know that? And I’m sure this is wrong on so many levels.”

  “Sure, but then you can buy me lunch at A.S. because again, I’m a poor parent, and you’re not.”

  “Pushy and manipulative.”

  “Dylan.” She touched his chest. He couldn’t feel her hand, but heat radiated through him.

  “What?”

  “I’m here, and I’m your friend.”

  He placed his hand over hers and leaned in to kiss her right there on the street.

  “Ditto.”

  “Friends don’t kiss like that,” she muttered, taking off up the street.

  He had nothing to smile about, but one found its way onto his face. Reaching her side, he adjusted his stride.

  They probably looked like a family with their little girl, and wasn’t that a terrifying thought. No really, isn’t it? If felt good to be out here with her and Grace, way too good, but he didn’t fight it, not right now. He was still reeling from the news about his little sister.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Piper was aware of the big man at her side. Felt his sadness, and the turmoil that was going on inside his head.

  “You’ll get a headache if you keep that up.”

  “What?”

  “Overthinking.”

  “It’s why I’m good at my job. I can go from A to B, then Z before returning to A.”

  “Nice, and handy it has to be said, but right now you can’t make this right, Dylan. Ava has a problem that she is going to need support to get through, and you can offer her that and more, but ultimately she will need to make the decision to change.”

  “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”

  “I was addicted to cocaine. That was why my mom brought me here. She worked hard, and long hours, and I spent time on my own. I hooked up with these other kids, one had lots of money but no parental guidance, so we got high.”

  “Christ, what were you? Ten?”

  “Twelve. Mom found out because one night she came home early from work and found me and Joanie wired in the house. Short story, she left her job and drove here. Coming to Ryker Falls changed my life.”

  “I’m telling you this because the battle to give up was hell. I was a demon to my mom. I hated the world and everyone in it. She locked me in my room here and wouldn’t open it unless I needed the bathroom or a meal. At night she slept beside me, holding me when I was crying, washing my face when I was sweating. She put up with a lot from me. She was also dealing with Joe going off the rails, and a wild Luke and Jack.”

  “She sounds like an amazing lady.”

  “More than, but the point here is that I know what Ava is about to go through, and it’s not going to be easy. If they detected the cocaine in her blood then she’s used within the last four days, Dylan.”

  He looked up the road and she knew he was thinking about her words.

  “I know, and I won’t leave her again.”

  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep. That above everything else will be important to her now.”

  He shot her a look but didn’t speak again, as they’d just entered the main street.

  “Well, look at that sweet picture.”

  Piper smiled as Fin approached. Dressed in his uniform, he was his usual vital self.

  “You all look cute together.”

  “Funny, Hudson,” Dylan said.

  Fin’s face changed and the smile dropped as he studied Dylan’s face.

  “Hey sorry, bud, heard about your family. How’s your mom and Ava doing?”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  “Well, you let me know if you need anything, and don’t forget we have the pool tournament tomorrow tonight. It sounds to me like you could do with a break.”

  “I’ll see how it goes, but thanks.”

  “And how’s the sweetest girl in Ryker Falls?” Fin kissed Piper’s cheek, then bent to kiss Grace.

  “Good. I just showed Dylan the house, Fin. He said it was sound.”

  “Yeah. You know about that kind of thing?”

  “Thing?” Dylan questioned.

  “Building thing.”

  “Oh that thing, sure I know a bit.”

  “Well, if you’ve got time I have this shelving unit that needs work.”

  “What kind of work?”

  “Lots of it. Can you take a look?”

  “Ahh, sure. I guess.”

  “Excellent. Beer and pizza for payment.” Fin slapped him on the back and then walked away.

  “He really meant that.”

  “About you fixing his mistakes? Yup. Fin’s not practical, although he likes to think he is.” Piper looked up at him.

  “Not that. I meant about him helping if I needed it.”

  “Of course he did. That’s the deal in small towns, we usually don’t say what we don’t mean.”

  “Yeah, I’d forgotten that happens.”

  “You really going to look at his shelves?”

  “I guess so.” Dylan looked confused, and Piper had
to look away so he didn’t see her smile. The man was coming undone. He’d lived life his way in New York, but here people tended to have a hand in whatever you did and how you progressed. Dylan was no exception, seeing as he was a local.

  Basil Automotive was situated off the main street. Outside were two old gasoline pumps that Bas had picked up somewhere, and people said he loved almost as much as his three kids.

  “I’m just talking to him, Piper. We’re not accusing anyone of anything, or getting into it with him.”

  “Sure, it’s just a ‘hey you’ visit. Got it.”

  “What?”

  “Hey you, what’s up. How’s it hanging? That kind of thing.”

  “Trainers.” Dylan shook his head. “You’re all crazy.”

  “Oh, now I object,” Piper said, poking him in the side. He stepped away. “Ticklish?”

  “No.” His eyes told her he was lying.

  She was enjoying just being with him. One friend spending time with another. Okay, there was no denying the chemistry between them, they both felt that, but for now that was on hold… possibly indefinitely.

  “Hey, Bas.”

  A big grizzly bear of a man with no hair, Bas was everyone’s go-to man. He ran a plow in winter and hired out chains to those in need, and two years ago played the lead in the winter pageant. He had a wonderful voice.

  “Zander about?” Piper said, pushing Grace up to the door of the garage.

  “Sure. Hey, I heard about Ava and your folks, Dylan, hope they’re improving?”

  “Yes, they’re doing better, thanks,” Dylan lied.

  “Aww, look at that sweet little girl. I swear she’s grown already since I saw her two days ago, Piper.” Bas bent to smile at Grace, and she garbled something back. “I’ll go get Zander.”

  “We’d be grateful,” Piper said.

  They stood to one side when Bas left, where no one could overhear them, and waited.

  “Grace is going to be spoilt by everyone in this town,” Dylan said.

  “Yesterday, Miss Marla and Miss Sarah came by with two dozen knitted dolls that Mandy once played with.”

  “There you go then.”

  Zander shuffled out the door a few minutes later dressed in his greasy overalls.

  Piper studied him, tried to see if he was capable of helping his girlfriend get high.

  “Hi.” He smiled, then bent to greet Grace.

  She didn’t think he was bad, just rude, and maybe awkward socially, but then she’d been wrong about people before.

  “What’s up? You been to see Ava? I’m going over soon. Weird, her just collapsing like that.”

  “Just left her,” Dylan said. “Has she been sick at all lately, Zander? You notice anything strange, or off about her?”

  Not by a flicker of an eyelash did his expression change. Piper knew this because she was watching him closely.

  “Off how?”

  “I’m not sure, I just wondered if she’d done this kind of thing before.”

  Dylan’s expression gave nothing away either. Both men were impassive. Piper guessed this was just how he looked when he was doing his job.

  “Nope. She’s never passed out when she’s been with me. I mean, she keeps herself healthy, and eats all that green shit. There was that stuff before I met her, but she told me that was done with now.”

  “What stuff?”

  Zander shrugged, and Piper thought it showed awesome restraint that Dylan didn’t grab him and shake hard. She certainly wanted to.

  “It’s not my business to tell you, you need to ask her.”

  “Look, Zander, I’m trying to help my sister here, so anything you tell me to support that I’d appreciate it.”

  Zander was clearly uncomfortable now, and wishing he’d kept his mouth shut, Piper thought.

  “Not sure of the details, only that she was doing drugs at law school in San Francisco.”

  “Drugs?” Dylan said softly.

  Zander looked cornered. “Hey man, don’t go telling her I said that. She trusts me, I don’t want to break that.”

  “Are you telling me she was doing drugs while at GGU?” Dylan’s voice could have cut glass.

  Piper took Grace out of her stroller and handed her to Dylan, who took her without hesitation. The little girl rested against his chest.

  “She made me promise not to tell because she was done with that stuff. I believed her.”

  Piper watched as Dylan ran a hand over Grace’s hair gently. Back and forth, slowly, while he thought through what he’d just learned.

  “Jesus, Zander,” Dylan said quietly. “This shit is serious. You should have spoken out.”

  “To who? She told me it was done. Are you telling me she’s still using?” Zander looked devastated.

  “How the hell could you not know that?”

  “Dylan.” Piper touched his arm, “this is not Zander’s fault.” At least she hoped it wasn’t his fault but the jury was still out on that.

  He exhaled as Grace patted his face.

  “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry.” He held out his hand to Zander, and they shook.

  “Don’t sweat it. You’re worried, like I am,” Zander said. “I gotta get back to work now, but I’ll go see Ava after. Don’t tell her what I told you.”

  “I won’t.”

  They walked away. Dylan still held Grace, his mind processing what he’d learned.

  “He knew, he had to.”

  “Maybe.”

  “How long has Ava known him?”

  “Since coming here, like I told you.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “That’s what I know. Zander’s harmless enough surely… well he seems that way.”

  “People can be good guys on the outside, but once you dig deeper they’re evil.”

  “I don’t know, I mean he’s not my favorite person, but most people seem to like him.”

  The sigh came from his toes.

  “I guess so, it’s just a lot to take in right now. I mean, she’s got her whole life to live, but before she does, she’s facing one hell of a battle.”

  “But now she has you and Charlie to help her with that.”

  He looked at her, but Piper wasn’t entirely sure he was focusing, because that FBI profiler brain of his was trying to work through what was going on with his sister and how to fix it. This time she doubted the answers would be that easy to find.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Dylan handed Grace back to Piper as his cell started to ring.

  “Excuse me, I need to take this call,” he said, noting the ID. “Mickey.”

  “Hey, Dylan, how’s it going there?”

  “Yeah, I’ve had better days, man. What you got for me?”

  “You remember that case we were called into. Guy’s name was Troy Fielder?”

  “Yes.” Dylan remembered it, all right. Fielder had been their worst nightmare as profilers. Intelligent, bordering on genius, and the most mentally unstable man they’d ever encountered. He’d kidnapped three women so he could torture them. Dylan had been the one who broke the case. He’d managed to get in the guy’s head and work out his next move, but not before Troy Fielder had murdered the women.

  “What about him?”

  “This business with your sister, I can link it back to that diner in Queens he spent all his time emailing those women from.”

  “What?” Dylan stopped in the street. Piper looked up at him. “He’s inside, Mickey. No way could he be involved.”

  “I know that, Dylan, because I checked. Plus, I checked if he had access to anything he could be doing this on, and no he doesn’t. In fact, he’s pretty much been in solitary for a year, because he’s a target. Seems the other inmates don’t like him.”

  “Shame,” Dylan said, trying to slow his breathing. “Are you sure about this, Mickey?”

  “I had Sylvie look it over. Whoever did this to your sister made one mistake in his rerouting through a VPN, and I traced it back to that diner in Queens.”<
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  “Well fuck,” Dylan said, then waved his hand at Piper to apologize for speaking that way in front of Grace.

  “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. This is someone who’s as smart as Fielder. Lucky for us he made one mistake.”

  “Give me a second, Mickey.” Dylan lowered his phone. “You go on into A.S., I’ll follow when I’m done,” Dylan said to Piper.

  Nodding, she threw him a questioning look as she walked away. With his eyes on her lovely long legs, he lifted the phone back to his ear. He then went on to explain to Mickey what else had been going on with his family.

  “Okay, let’s not panic here, because Fielder’s inside and it could be just coincidence all this other stuff happening, but it’s cause for concern. No doubting that.”

  “Huge fucking cause for concern,” Dylan said as acid churned in his gut. “I testified at his trial, he knows who I am and that my evidence helped put him away.”

  “Copycat, or someone close to him may be working on his behalf, or a family member,” Mickey said. “He’s a sick bastard and plays games. Doing this to you, and from that diner, would be something he’d enjoy.”

  “No.” Dylan shook his head even though Mickey couldn’t see him. “It’s not possible. That would mean that whoever is connected to this and likely him is here in Ryker.”

  “So you say, but you of all people know what is possible.”

  “I do,” Dylan agreed.

  “Here’s what’s happening. I’m coming down there as soon as I can clear it.”

  “I can’t let you do that, Mickey.”

  “You have no say in it, and the boss will want it anyway. So, Dylan, this may be a coincidence and turn out to be a series of really unlucky events, but—”

  “We don’t believe in coincidence, Mickey, you know that.”

  “Right. I’ll be in touch with my arrival time. Meanwhile, stay safe, my friend, and eyes open.”

  Dylan cut the call and pocketed his cell phone with Mickey’s words running through his head. Was it possible that someone was targeting his family, and could Dylan be the motivation? Looking around, he wondered if any of the people out here on the street were behind what was happening to his family.

  Fear sluiced through him at the thought. How was he to find out who was responsible? How could he keep his family safe?