Dylan
“IT’S A NICE dream, but it doesn’t exactly work like that here,” I told Jake before stuffing the remainder of a tasty Cajun wrap into my mouth.
After Lakeview’s finest carted Wyatt off, we’d left the fairgrounds in search of decent food. I’d taken the crew to the Eagle’s Nest—a bar known for its friendly staff, good food, strong drinks, and a giant stuffed elk head hanging from the wall.There were no eagles or nest to be found, so you’d think they’d name the place Elk’s Head, or something else at least moderately applicable, but that’s just not the way the town worked. The establishment names made almost as much sense as the town’s justice system. Since the moment we’d sat down, Jake had been trying to reassure me that Wyatt would see justice for what he’d done. Jake was a goodcop, and he didn’t understand how we did things here.
“Charges like attempted assault don’t disappear when you cross the town’s border, Dylan,” Jake replied. “I’ll contact the local police chief Tuesday and—”
“I bet they didn’t even take him in,” I said. “Probably didn’t get out of the parking lot before they released him.”
“What makes you say that?” Asher asked, watching me. His hand and legkept conveniently bumping against mine like he needed to reassure himself that I was there and okay.
“My dad has been picked up for drinking and driving, drunk and disorderly, public intoxication...just about every alcohol-related charge in the book, and he’s never been charged.”
Jake frowned. “I’m sure that’s wrong. There has to be something else going on.”
“Oh, there is. He’s related tomost of the police force. The two cops who picked up Wyatt today...the redhead was my second cousin twice removed, Rex, and the brunette was my third cousin, Eric. Dad’s even related to the DA, and they’re close...as in family barbecues close.”
“Do you really think Wyatt cut the cinch?” Addison asked, playing with her straw.
Jake and I both nodded.
“Is this somehow related to your dad stealingthe jewelry?” she asked.
I shrugged. “I don’t know how it could be.”
“But it could,” Asher interjected. “Dylan’s dad warned her to get out of town the night we ran into him.”
“He did?” Addison asked, watching me. “What did he say?”
“Something lame and ominous like ‘get out of this town before you find out what’s really going on.’ I’m sure he’s just trying to throw us off his scent.”
“I don’tknow,” Asher said. “He seemed legitimately worried about you. Maybe something biggerisgoing on here.”
I wanted to argue, but couldn’t shake the feeling he was right. Addison obviously couldn’t either, because she pulled a notepad and pen out of her purse, ready to get to work. “Okay, so far we know Dylan’s dad is stealing the jewelry, Brandy put some of it back for some reason, and Wyatt triedto...uh...”—she looked at Jake—“do whatever Wyatt tried to do.”
I got, and appreciated, that Addison didn’t want to make any references to attempts on killing us in front of her still-pissed boyfriend and my suddenly clingy one.
