by Vella, Wendy
“Why did you?” He dragged his eyes from the house to the man seated beside him.
“My brother suffered because of you, and I had a feeling you had the power to make my cousin do the same. I was wrong, and realized that after what you did for Pip and Gracie.”
Dylan shook the hand Jack held out to him. He didn’t like to think of Piper suffering because of him... or Joe, for that matter.
“I would never hurt your family.”
“I get that now. The thing is, I think you could do it unintentionally.”
“I’m sure gonna try not to.” Dylan went for honesty. It was an honesty kind of moment from where he was sitting. One of those moments you shared with people you never shared moments with again.
Joe came out laughing with his arm draped around his little brother. The closeness was obvious and made the longing inside Dylan deepen. Suddenly he wanted that with his siblings. Needed to have a connection to somewhere and someone. Either that, or he needed to get the hell out of Ryker.
“I’ll deny it if you say it out loud, but those two guys are pretty much the best friends I’ve ever had.”
“I always wanted a brother,” Dylan said softly.
“Brothers, friends, they can be the same thing, Dylan. The secret is letting people in. It took me a while to realize that, and a few beatings from Joe, but I got round to it in the end.”
“Nice,”
“It really is.”
Conversation stopped as Joe opened the door and climbed in.
“Nice ride, bud.”
“Thanks. I actually had no intention of going to pool night, but your brothers kidnapped me.”
Joe laughed.
“I like your place, Joe.”
“Me too. You come back sometime and I’ll give you the tour, and you can point out all the things you could have done better.”
Dylan snorted.
“What does an FBI Profiler know about building?” Luke asked the question.
“Building was his first love,” Joe said. “Do you still play with wood, Dylan?”
“All the time. I went with Piper to see that house, and have to say it made my fingers itch.”
Dylan listened as the brothers grumbled about her plans to leave them but didn’t question why he’d been with her, which he thought was interesting.
“It’s ten minutes tops from you, and that’s walking, so lighten up.” He laughed. “Seriously, she needs this challenge, especially now she has Grace.”
They neither agreed or disagreed, which he also found interesting.
“So,” Luke said, “we have a cabinet that needs work. Any time you’re free, we’d appreciate it.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
The Trainers got into each other in that way Dylan knew brothers did on the drive to the lodge, and he listened and laughed.
“Shelby Parkes said you turned out to be a real letdown in bed, Jack,” Luke said. “I told her that they saved the best for last when it came to Trainers.”
“No way would she buy such obvious BS, little boy. We all know you haven’t reached your full height yet... anywhere.”
And on it went. Joe chipped in with the odd comment. It was like breathing to them, Dylan realized, and intriguing to watch. They were insulting each other, but no one took offense; it was just how they communicated.
“Go round the side, Dylan,” Jack said as they drove up to the lodge. Pitched roof, massive glass windows, and several floors high. It had wings left and right, and an equally impressive beige stone front entrance. Huge lights lit the grounds and building. He’d been impressed when he came for a meal with Charlie and hadn’t changed his opinion since.
“Impressive,” Dylan said as he tracked right, following Jack’s directions.
“Yeah, some people were opposed, but it’s been nothing but good for Ryker having the lodge here,” Joe said.
“Let me guess, my mom was one of the people who opposed?”
The silence in the car gave Dylan his answer. He sighed, because there wasn’t much else he could say.
They got out and headed up a set of stone steps and in through a glass door. A pitched roof gave the room a feeling of space, and a fire roared in the stone hearth, making it welcoming.
Ted Hosking, the lodge’s owner, stood talking to a man Dylan didn’t know and Fin Hudson. The talk stopped as he and the Trainers walked in.
“Well hell, you got him here. Come on in, city boy, I need new blood to fleece,” Fin drawled, coming forward to shake Dylan’s hand.
“You think so, do you?”
“I’ll reserve judgment till I’ve seen you play. You know everyone but this idiot. Sheriff Cubby Hawker, this is Dylan Howard.”
The man was big, with rust-colored hair, and tanned skin. He had that vital look fit people had, and a pair of intense blue eyes.
“Cubby’s from Lake Howling, Oregon. He’s a friend of Fin’s. We met in police academy.”
“You went to police academy?” Dylan asked the ranger.
He shrugged. “Turns out I’m not that good at following rules.”
“Amen,” Cubby said, raising his beer.
“Cubby’s here scouting out a place for his bachelor party.”
“Long way to go for a bachelor party.” Dylan accepted the beer Joe handed him.
“My girl is going to Vegas, so I figure I got some wiggle room there,” the sheriff said with a slow smile.
“He has these rich friends too, who can fly him most places. Texans,” Fin added. “We’re hoping they’ll come to the lodge so we can all crash the party.”
The sheriff just smiled. Dylan had feeling he was a man who only spoke when he had something to say.
“Okay, so we’re done with the chitchat. Now grab a drink and let’s get playing,” Ted said.
Everyone was dressed in variations of casual, from chinos to jeans, sweaters, and button-down shirts. Music played softly from a speaker system Dylan had yet to locate. The entire setting was conducive for relaxing and enjoying the occasion; not easy when he wasn’t sure if his family was under threat or not.
Dylan soon found himself on the table with Jack Trainer. They’d reached a truce, and he was glad because he had to say he liked these Trainer men now.
“How’s Ava?”
“Okay,” Dylan said. He wasn’t going into detail.
“And your mom and dad?”
“Mom’s better, and hosting bridge tonight.”
“Reason enough to be here, as I said before.”
“And some,” Dylan said, taking a shot. “Dad’s coming home tomorrow.”
They played, they talked, and Dylan felt himself relax. For now, tonight, his family were all safe. He’d given his numbers to everyone, and they’d call him if they had concerns. Charlie knew what was going on, and he couldn’t do much more. Sure the small ball of angst in his gut was there, but listening to the talk going on around him and the beers were helping him to relax.
They’d been playing for a few hours when the eldest Trainer ripped away his feeling of calm.
“I was telling Cubby about it earlier, how it’s open season on the Howards. Well, not all; you and Charlie are okay.”
Dylan didn’t reveal that in fact Charlie was facing her share of trouble. Three down in the Howard family was talking point enough, without adding to what Mickey and he had discussed today.
“You got any enemies, Dylan?” The sheriff laughed from the end of the table. He was watching Dylan beat Joe, a fact the oldest Trainer was pissed about.
“What?” Dylan missed the shot he’d just lined up. Looking at the sheriff, he tried to control the sudden thud of his heartbeat as it sped up.
“Three out of five of your family members are sick or injured. Seems more than a coincidence. If that was happening in my town, I’d be curious.”
“Not sure what you’re getting at, Sheriff,” Dylan said, trying to act calm.
“You get used to it, but he relates every situation back to something criminal
,” Fin said.
Dylan kept his expression clear as he lined up the next shot, but he couldn’t stop the shiver that tracked through his body.
“Someone walk over your grave?” Jack said, rounding the table.
Was his father lying in a hospital bed because of him? His mother ate something off, or just picked up a virus, and Ava was taking drugs. None of those things pointed to anything suspect. Mickey could be wrong. Nothing to suggest anyone else had played a hand in any of those events. Why, then, was he suddenly feeling as if his skin didn’t fit?
“Hey, Dylan, your shot.”
He turned to face Jack Trainer, and the man slowly lowered the cue.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing, just... nothing.” Dylan tried to shake the unease that had gripped him.
“You look like you’ve seen your great-aunt Claire in her underwear.”
Joe walked to where his brother stood and looked at Dylan.
“You don’t look good, bud. What’s up?”
His chest felt tight, and the gentle buzz from the beer was suddenly gone. Was he having a heart attack? Dylan made a fist, then released. His arm felt okay. What the hell was wrong with him? He didn’t usually react without facts, and he had nothing concrete yet to suggest his family was targeted because of him. He needed to keep his head clear until Mickey arrived.
“I got him thinking.” Cubby was next to appear in his line of sight. “Talking about his family, and what’s going on. Wasn’t my intention, Dylan, I assure you.”
Everyone was now listening, all pretense of playing over.
“N-no, I’m all good,” Dylan stumbled out.
“I know how to read people in my line of work,” the sheriff said, “and I’m sorry if my messing around has you all riled up, but good is what you definitely aren’t.”
“I’m an FBI profiler,” Dylan said for no other reason than he needed to. “I read people too.”
Cubby Hawker whistled. “You guys are next-level good at that kind of thing. It always amazes me how you can get to the point you did with what you have at hand. It’s a skill for sure.”
“Really is.” Ted Hosking handed Dylan a beer. He took it, and a long pull. “My sister went missing, and it was a profiler who found her after months.”
“I never knew that.” Joe looked stunned. “I’ve known you years and I’m only hearing this now.”
Ted shrugged. “It’s not something you bring up in everyday conversation.”
“Is your sister okay?” Luke asked.
“No, they found her dead.”
The calm way Ted said the words told Dylan he dealt with what had happened to his sister by acting like he could handle it. But those eyes told a different story.
“I’m glad we helped bring her home for you, Ted,” Dylan said into the silence.
The man nodded, and an understanding passed between them. She’d suffered, they both knew it, but no one else needed to.
“Sorry for your loss, bud.” Joe cupped Ted’s shoulder. There was no need to say anything else. The scars were deep and ugly, but no words could erase them.
“So, Mr. FBI profiler, you want to tell me why you’re suddenly so jittery with my questions?” Cubby asked the question into the sudden, uncomfortable silence. It took the attention from Ted and focused it squarely back on Dylan.
Dylan put down the cue he was holding, because suddenly he wanted to wrap it around the sheriff from Lake Howling’s neck.
“No, and it’s time I left.”
“Running never helped anyone.”
He’d turned away, but the sheriff’s words had him spinning back again. “What the hell’s your problem? Not enough crime for you in Lake Howling, that you have to come here and bug me?”
“It’s well meaning, bud. I know when someone’s conflicted, so if I can help, then I’d be happy to.”
“Well fuck,” Dylan said softly. “No.” He shook his head, trying to clear it.
Feeling shaken all over again, Dylan looked at the ceiling and away from the eyes that were now focused solely on him.
“If something’s up, Dylan, we’re your guys, so spill.”
Joe said the words, and for him it was that easy. Dylan was now one of his people, and the thought was a humbling one.
“Someone in Charlie’s work has infiltrated her emails and bank accounts and set it up to look like she was stealing money. She lost her job because of it, but as yet has not been charged as the money was recovered. I called a colleague of mine who is good with this kind of thing and he looked into it. He called me earlier.”
“I’m guessing it wasn’t a social call?” Cubby said.
“He said the attack on Charlie had some similarities to a case I worked on. Whoever did this messed up once with rerouting through a VPN and it was traced back to a diner in Queens. The same diner the man I helped put in prison sent emails from to the three women he murdered.”
“That’s got to rattle some chains?” Ted said.
Dylan nodded.
“Well now,” Cubby said. “Okay, you want to run through what’s happened? I’ll listen and give my sage advice.”
“I don’t see any good would come from that,” Dylan protested.
“You kidding me?” Fin shook his head. “The man can’t function unless he’s wearing his sheriff’s cape.”
“No, this is not happening.” Dylan shook his head too. “This is ridiculous. Like I told Mickey, it’s got to be a coincidence. Why would someone want to hurt my family?”
“Not sure they would,” Luke said. “But it’s a hell of a coincidence now you add that shit with Charlie.”
“Seems a hell of a stretch,” Ted said. “But then I’ve seen bigger ones that turned out to be true. Got a whiteboard over there if you want to use it.”
“We’re playing pool,” Dylan said, looking at the whiteboard. “I’m not ruining the evening with this, and if there’s a problem, which I don’t know that there is, I can look into it myself, thanks.”
“If you’re worried it’s one of us then I have to tell you, don’t. None of us are that smart, and would someone tell me what the hell a VPN is?” Jack said, making everyone but Dylan laugh.
“We’re pretty well done with pool, seeing as I was losing,” Joe said, ignoring his brother. “But have to say Cubby has me worried for you Howards. Could be nothing but a coincidence for sure, but then maybe not, especially considering what your colleague says.”
Dylan felt a hand on his back. He wasn’t sure who it belonged to, but it was nudging him toward the whiteboard. Cubby picked up the marker.
“No, I can figure this out myself.” He tried to put a halt to the insanity.
“It’s how this thing called friendship works. We work through stuff.”
“I don’t even know you.”
“But you know us, and we’re friends, so he is by extension. And I can tell you right off, he is not smart enough to do this to Charlie,” Fin said.
“I object,” the sheriff said, taking the cap of the marker. “Okay, so I’m in charge of the whiteboard.”
“Who made you boss?” Luke asked.
“My badge.”
“No arguing with that,” the youngest Trainer added.
“So tell us about this copycat dude.”
Dylan found himself talking, and the others threw in questions. An hour later he felt like a large weight was suddenly sitting on his chest. The facts were there before him, startlingly clear on the whiteboard.
“Okay, so Operation: Protect Howards has just commenced,” Joe said. “We need to make sure you guys are watched until this is dealt with.”
“I can look after my family.”
“Sure, and we’ll tag along. Don’t worry, I’ll stay out of your mom’s way. She won’t even know I’m there,” Joe said.
“I don’t want Chief Blake to know yet.” Dylan looked around the group of men. “Not until I can lay it all out for him clearly. At the moment it would be hard to get him to bel
ieve me.”
“We do,” Ted said.
And they did, Dylan thought, looking around the faces of the men he now thought of as friends. How the hell was he going to keep them safe as well if they didn’t keep their distance?
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Piper heard the rumble of an engine pull up outside the house. She was tucked out of sight soaking in the hot tub, as she often did in the wee hours of the morning after she’d put Grace back to sleep. Tonight she needed it more than ever, as her body ached from the fall she’d taken today.
She heard the voices approaching and ducked under the water, but her cousins simply went up the front steps and inside the house. They’d be asleep in minutes, especially if they’d had a few beers. Piper didn’t want company; this was her time. Time to reflect and regroup.
The sound of footsteps had her sinking below the water once more. Maybe they hadn’t both gone inside. She hoped they didn’t want to join her.
The view here was spectacular, especially when the moon was high as it was tonight. She could see the mountains outlined and it felt wonderful to be the only one seeing it.
Rising, she watched a figure emerge out of the darkness and walk by her, hands in pockets. The man took shape and she realized it was Dylan. He stopped at the edge of the paved area and looked up at the mountains. His exhale was loud and slow, and then his shoulders slumped and his head dropped. It was defeat she saw now in every line of his body.
The anger she’d been carrying toward him slipped away. He’d been rude to her and Joe, but she also knew he had a lot on his mind.
“Dylan?”
He turned.
“Piper?”
“Yes.”
His eyes located her, and his feet started moving. In seconds he was there standing above her. She couldn’t read his expression, but wished she could because something was worrying him.
He ran a hand down her cheek, his fingers cool from the night air.
“Why are you here, Dylan?”
“Because your cousins told me to walk around here and look up at the mountains before I drove home because it would clear my head.”
“Why does your head need clearing? I know it’s not from the beer, or you wouldn’t have driven.”
