Three

CHAPTER THREE

He's hiding something

I rolled my eyes at Dylan' words.

“I have time!" I snapped.

“I can't go into it all. A lot has changed for me.

“Come on, Dylan. You're just suddenly back from nowhere. You're seriously not going to tell me why?

“I....maybe another time.”

As much as my curiosity was telling me to push, Dylan obviously doesn't want to talk about this.“For me too. Raymond, I never thought he would do that to me.”

“He'll regret it .” Dylan's glare sends a shiver through me. He looked dangerous. I never thought of him this way before, but I do now.

“I don't know if he will. Things weren't great between us. He may just be glad it's over.”

Dylan opens his mouth to say something but closes it again. “Maybe you're right. It's his loss.”

We sat in comfortable silence for a while. The waiter brings our pancakes, which are especially delicious to my hungover body.

“I have some news.”Dylan hesitates, seemingly nervous. “ I've decided to move back here.”

“Really?”That's wonderful !” I don't know why he was nervous; I'm ecstatic. Getting my friend back is just what I needed amidst all the misery.“Do you have somewhere to stay yet?

“Yes...The people I was staying with before hooked me up with a local branch. I'm going there.

“A local branch for what?”

“It's sort of...a community.”

“What kind of community ?”

“Um. Maybe I will tell you about it sometime. So where are you staying ?”

I allowed the change of subjects though I'm more than a little curious.

My parents used to say curiosity was my curse since it got me into trouble often enough, but it's certainly been a good use as an investigative journalist.

Dylan was waiting for an answer, but I'm lost in thought.

It would be wrong to pursue him as a story, but that's not what I'm thinking. I don't want to publish whatever he is hiding. I just want to know what it was.

“I'm staying with Hannah for now .” My mind is already racing ahead.

Of course, I have to take some time off from work if I'm going to figure out Dylan's secret, but I'm sure Roland will give me that.

My conscience niggled at me, though.

Would I be betraying Dylan's trust? Or would I be helping him?

After all, I don't want to know what he's hiding for a nefarious reason. I just wanted to support him.

Surely, that's not wrong?

I find my eyes roving over his body without my permission.

Is it just me, or has he been working out?

No, I'm not imagining it, he definitely has been working out. Dylan had always been cute, but not he was somehow managed to achieve a perfect balance between cute and hot.

His hair is slightly longer too. It's always been this gorgeous, thick black-brown, and it looks more beautiful and alluring just brushing his shoulders. Dylan's eyes somehow seemed bluer than usual as I stared at him.

Looking at him reminds me of how long it has been since I had sex, let alone good sex. Raymond and I have hardly been in the mood recently with all the problems between us.

“You ok?”

I feel myself blushing .“Yes, I'm fine. Just thinking of Raymond...I don't know where things went wrong. It seems that everything I do is wrong. My working hours are too long, I'm not paid enough, I don't do enough around the house, I'm too fussy, too emotional, and unreasonable....”

I broke down when I saw Dylan' face. It scares me; he looks like he's ready to do something bloody, murder. He's actually shaking.

“Dylan?”

A cracking noise has me staring at the table. Dylan's hands are clenched on the edge, and he's broken a piece clean off.

“What the...?”

“I'm sorry. I have to go. I'll call you .”

“Wait, Dylan-”

It's too late. He's already gone, vanishing quicker than I would have believed possible. He's out of the door before I can even get up.

I'm left staring at his half-finished pancakes.

What on earth was that?

My journalistic instinct kicks in half a second later. I tossed some money down on the table and hurried out, picking up the pieces of the broken table on the way.

I scan the road both ways and I quickly make my way to a street-side stall selling fruit.

“Excuse me, I'm looking for my boyfriend. We just fought. Please, I have to make up with him -I said some really bad things.”

The man selling the fruit gave me a sympathetic smile .“The young man who just exited the IHOP in such a hurry? Yes, I saw him running down the street- very fast he was going, too. He went this way.”

Great. Now what?

If he had gotten into the taxi, or driven somewhere, I could work on developing a source at a taxi company or a car GPS agency, but if he's walking or running, I'll be stuck asking people on the street.

I did just that for almost an hour, but it quickly became apparent that it is a losing battle. Dylan was moving quickly, and he's gaining ground in me every moment I stand still questioning someone.

No, there is a better way to do this.

I started walking back to my car, my head full of the mystery of Dylan. It's easier to think about his strange strength and disappearance than about my headache over Raymond, or my guilty thought about how I wouldn't protest at all should Dylan decide to pin me up against the wall and kiss me.

When I arrived at Hannah's place there were police officers at the door.

My heart seems to freeze in my chest.

Has Raymond been here?

I'd never believed he could get violent with Hannah, possibly asking where I am, but then, I'd never believed he'd cheated on me either.

I rushed up to the door .“Hannah? Are you okay ?”

One of the police officers stops me. “Are you Kenzy Amber?”

“Yes..where's Hannah? Is she okay?”

She's fine, we just spoke to her. Actually, it's you we are looking for .”

That brings me up short. What?”

“Where were you approximately one hour ago ?”

“Why?”

“Answer the question, please ma'am .”

“I was at IHOP, then I spent some time working on the street. You can ask anyone there, I talked to several people. Why?”

“Your fiance-”

“Ex fiance.”

“Someone has ransacked his house and left a threatening message on his well. We believe it is written in blood .”

I can feel myself going white .“What?”

“ We'll check out your proof. In the meantime, is there anyone else, you know, who might want to hurt Raymond?”

I clamp my mouth shut. My first thought is Hannah, but then I remembered how angry Dylan was when he left.

Could he possibly....?

I have to protect him, and Hannah. I won't let them go down for standing up for me.

“No, officer. I can't think of anyone .”

His eyes bore into mine. I don't know what the legal penalty for lying to the police is, but I'm sure it's good.

What if he doesn't believe me?