-17-
-Kira Carter-Wells-
Once arrests have been made, statements taken, and Dylan has been properly cleaned up by medically trained staff—his wounds are superficial, thank goodness—we end up in the hotel lobby cradling take-out coffees from the machine in the filling station down the street.
It seems Mallory has a history of erotomania.She’d exhibited similarly obsessive behaviour over several authority figures while in the foster system.Dylan’s seemingly all ears for explanations, despite looking as if he’s ready to drop.It’s pretty clear to me that he’s falling back on avoidance tactics again.While he’s concentrating on Mallory’s fragile mental health, he doesn’t have to act or make any decisions, and we don’t have to re-tread the issues that resulted in us parting ways in the first place.
“The one thing I don’t really understand is why she targeted me and not Bask?”he says.
“I’ve a thought or two about that.”Howard sits up straight to deliver this insight.“Lydia was already exacting her revenge on Bask for the destruction of her marriage.She’s been using her influence as a respected film director to ensure that no one cuts him any breaks.Hence his career had taken such a drastic nosedive.Mallory was aware of that, and hence her focus became you.Lydia couldn’t do anything about you, not when you were so successfully wowing the nation as Blake Clarence Oldrich.No amount of friendly ear-bending about your behaviour was going to get you axed from the show when the viewing figures were breaking records.When it comes down to it, the entertainment industry is as mercenary as any other.
“As for the messages, I’m not really sure what their purpose was other than to purposefully mind fuck the pair of you.I guess she hoped to create some sort of scandal that would ultimately paint you both in a bad light.Assault charges are likely to put the nail in the coffin of Bask’s career.”
“I’ve asked that they be dropped.I can’t punish Adam for what happened, not when he was being manipulated.”
“Dylan, he attacked you.”
He waves away the remark.“He thought we’d arranged the whole thing, and had no idea that I wasn’t aware of that.Ultimately, all he did was give me a scare.Besides, I’m not interested in giving either Truss or Whit what they want.Sinking Adam’s career would delight both women too much.Also there’s the matter of the messages themselves to think about.”
“You do realise that there’s a good chance they’ll make their way into the evidence against Mallory anyway?”Howard points out.Ever practical and on the ball, my boss.I’m not sure Dylan wanted that reminder, but it’s a fair point, and should be taken into consideration.
Dylan only shrugs.“That I can’t control, and at least they’ll be in the context of her manic behaviour, and not so easily taken out of context and simply attributed to me.”
“Perhaps so,” Howard agrees.“Let’s hope that’s the case.”He crumples his coffee cup, then rises and shakes Dylan’s hand.“You know where to find us if you’ve future concerns about your safety.Kira, we should let Mr.Drake get to his bed.”
The clock has struck three… Even the Wilde-Caine engagement party has apparently wrapped up, and as the incident here is resolved as far as it can be until court dates are set, there really isn’t any necessity to linger, yet...
“I’ll make my way home in a minute,” I promise.My boss continues to loiter as if expecting me to leap up and say my goodbyes.When after a minute or so I show no sign of motion he clips his heels together, bids Dylan goodnight again, and finally wanders off.
Dylan watches him leave from the corners of his eyes, then flicks his gaze over to me.
“What?He’s my boss, that doesn’t mean he gets to dictate my bedtime.I can decide for myself when I want to go home and crash out for the night.”
A smile creases up the right hand side of Dylan’s face.A long stretch of glue and Steri-Strips restrict the movement of the left.
I don’t see what’s so amusing.
“I never said otherwise.”
No, but he certainly implied it, and maybe itistime I wound my way home.The resolution I’m seeking isn’t going to magically come about no matter how long I keep my bottom on this chair.I shuffle forward to the edge of my seat, and locate my car keys.“What about you?Will you be okay upstairs in that room?”It chills me to think of him alone up there.
Dylan hugs his arms as a shiver chases through his body.“I’m not sure I’m even allowed in.There’s probably crime scene tape barring my entrance.I’ll have to ask at the desk and see if they have another room.Otherwise…” He sighs, looking at his watch.“It’s a bit late to be checking into a different hotel.”
“Yeah.”I lick my lips uneasily.It would be a grim end to a bad night if he was left without somewhere to even rest his head.Then, “You could come home with me.”
Shit!I don’t know what possessed me.
“With you?”He sounds as startled as I feel that I made the offer.It’s a stupid suggestion.And, I made it for all the wrong reasons.There’s no sense in even pretending it’s because I feel sorry for him, or that I’m being a Good Samaritan.
“But only if you like cats.”
His brows streak further upward toward his hairline.“I like cats,” he says cautiously.“You have a cat?”
I rise.“Yeah, a big bossy tomcat, who likes to spit and dig in his claws, then sleep with his butt in your face.”I might sound like I’m all breezy and full of light, but there are lodestones in my guts.What the hell am I doing sharing personal details, inviting him home after everything that’s happened tonight, and all the things we’ve utterly failed to say to one another.
“He sounds utterly charming.”
I shrug.“He has his moments.”
