“No!” Tayler shouts.
“Yes. And show me the letters.”
Tayler’s voice is a screech level as she practically screams, “No!”
* * *
“Tellme what happened here this morning.”
The three of us are sitting in Quinn and Tayler’s living room telling Ames cop, Gage Golden, about Dylan’s visit. He’s been taking notes like crazy, so at least he’s doing his due diligence even though it’s obvious he’s not on the clock. He’s got on jeans, sneaks, and a Led Zeppelin t-shirt instead of his black cop clothes. No doubt he’s here because of Quinn. It’s obvious he considers her a friend. I know he was a big help to her when the shit went down with that crazy chick, Kara. And since then, I’ve seen him at Cy’s a couple of times, usually alone. So, yeah, I’m gladshe’sgot an ally on the police force because me and cops haven’t always seen eye to eye. That was years ago, though. Now I’m an upstanding member of the community.
Ha! That’s a joke.
Well, technically I am. I’d just never categorize myself as “upstanding.” Take the shit this morning, for example. I wish it’d just been Dylan and me. Then I’d have made sure he knew never to ‘stop by’ Tayler’s place again.
“Luke?”
“Oh, right. Sorry, man.” I tell the story from my point of view, starting from my arrival at Tayler’s place to Dylan’s knock on the door. I attempt to remember everything that was said between the two of us. What I didn’t get right, Tayler corrected me. The woman remembered everything.
So far, neither woman has mentioned the letters, and they sure as shit haven’t shown them to me. “He’s written some letters, but they won’t let me see them.”
Golden’s brow arches. “Letters?”
“They’re nothing,” Tayler says defensively.
Quinn interjects, “Well, I wouldn’t say they were nothing, hon.”
“Quinn! Whose side are you on?”
“Yours. That’s why I think you should at least show Gage. He’s probably seen this kind of thing before. Let him decide if it’s normal or not.”
“Fine.” Growling, Tayler stands and marches into the kitchen. Yanking open one of her kitchen drawers, she pulls out a plastic silverware holder and sets it on the counter. Next, she retrieves several pieces of paper. Back at the couch, she sets them on the table in front of Gage.
We watch as he slides on rubber gloves.
Tayler snaps, “They’re in chronological order.”
Quinn snorts. “’Course they are.”
Standing, I move behind Gage so I can look down at the first letter. He doesn’t protest, so I read:
Tayler,
I love you. I always will. Give me another chance. I screwed up. Nobody can hold a candle to you.
Love, Dylan
“That one doesn’t seem soout of the ordinary.” Gage sets it down and picks up a second letter.
Red,
I miss you so much. I saw you at HyVee yesterday. You were buying chicken and twice-baked potatoes. You know those are my favorites. Are you cooking me dinner? Just call. I’ll be there.
Love, Dylan
I lookover at Tayler who’s staring down at the floor. She has to know this isn’t normal.
A third letter reads:
