Home Is Where the Heart Is (18 page)

He walked inside, the sound of laughter coming from near the back of the office. “Hello,” he called out.

“I’ll be right with you,” a male voice answered back.

“Jake? It’s Ty.”

Jake leaned out into the hall. “Be right with you, Ty. Are you looking for Dylan?”

“I wanted to touch base with both of you if I could.”

“Sure. Let me give Dylan a call. He’s hanging out with Kyra but it shouldn’t take them too long to get here.”

Jake grabbed his phone and dialed Dylan’s number. The phone rang three times before Dylan picked up.

“Jake, this had better be good.”

Jake laughed. “Trust me, man. I wouldn’t bother you if it wasn’t.”

“Well then spit it out.”

“Ty is here and wants to update us… and before you ask, he didn’t say what it was about.”

“We’re on our way. We should be there in about fifteen or twenty minutes.”

“Sure thing, boss.”

Thirty minutes later, Dylan and Kyra walked into the office, their hair soaking wet and clothes damp from their visit to the lake. Kyra was tucked under Dylan’s arm, loving the way she fit so perfectly against his body.

As they stepped inside the door laughing, everyone in the room turned to look at them. Kyra didn’t miss the shocked expression on Jake’s face at the sight of Dylan laughing. To be honest, she didn’t give it much thought until then, but ever since she returned, he hadn’t really laughed very often. Jake and Paula just smiled at each other as they took in their appearance. Neither uttered a word. A small part of her said a silent thank you that her friend had kept her mouth shut for once. It was a rare occurrence, to say the very least. She loved Paula, but the woman rarely kept her thoughts to herself.

“This better be worth putting an end to a very…” Dylan looked at Kyra and smiled “…interesting afternoon.”

“Dylan!” Kyra exclaimed, blushing. “Oh my god, guys, just ignore him. We were just at the lake.”

“From the looks of the two of you, it was a lot more than that,” Jake said, chuckling as he glanced over at Paula. Kyra felt the heat creep along her chest, rising like the uncontrollable flames of a wildfire until they swept across her cheeks. The rosy glow was unmistakable.

“Enough!” Dylan said, before placing a kiss on Kyra’s forehead. “So what’s this about, Ty?”

“My team has wrapped up the investigation. We’ll be making arrests in the next few hours. I thought you’d like to know where we stood on the case.”

Kyra snapped to attention at Ty’s words. Finally, she thought. “Arrests? Who?” she asked. No matter how much she tried to hold herself together, her voice still broke as she uttered the last word.

“From what we’ve uncovered due to the help of your father, monies from a number of city accounts have been stolen over the course of a few years. Chief Fox and Tom Perry will be picked up today,” Ty explained. “We hope that one will turn on the other and fill in whatever blanks there might be.”

“What about my father’s killer? Do we know who that is yet?” Kyra whispered.

To shook his head, disappointment on his face. “I’m sorry, Kyra, but I don’t have an answer for you yet. I’d hoped to get more details from McAllen. We will find out, though. You can count on that.”

“Thank you, Ty.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

The next day, the arrests of the Chief of Police and the town’s only remaining attorney made front page news. The town gossips were already hard at work, spreading the story and god only knew what else. Situations like this often unearthed a plethora of secrets, lies, and rumors about all parties involved. Thankfully, Kyra’s parents had lived a quiet and respectful life helping others and doing good for the community whenever they could. There were no skeletons in their closet. Not a single one.

The local news station covered the story, which Dylan, Kyra, and Paula watched over coffee. They watched as Ty and his team escorted Chief Fox out of the police department in handcuffs. Dylan let out a hearty chuckle at the sight. Kyra knew Dylan missed being a police officer, and that Fox and the dirty cops that worked for him had killed that dream. Maybe he could go back now. Would he? Kyra wasn’t sure how she’d feel about dating a cop. The risk of losing Dylan scared her to death. She pushed the concern aside for another time.

The reporter continued to give a play by play of the story for her viewers, but Kyra wasn’t listening. She already knew the story. The image on the television screen changed, showing her father’s law office along with a very scared Tom Perry being escorted to a waiting SUV. Tom had always been an arrogant jackass. Seeing him taken down a dozen notches was interesting.

She didn’t know what to think about the entire mess. How had things gotten so out of hand? Why did her parents have to die? Why? Before she knew it, Dylan was at her side, wiping away her tears. He pulled her into his lap and held her tight against him as she cried. All of the answers she had been wanting for weeks were so close now. But would she be able to handle them once she had them? She hoped so.

With the investigation wrapping up and so many reporters lurking around town, everyone thought it best to stay inside for the day. They were all getting restless, waiting to hear from Ty. It had been hours since a busty blonde reporter reported that the suspects were being interviewed by the FBI… but still no word from him.

Kyra hovered by the patio, a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. “I just don’t understand why it’s taking so damn long.”

“Sweetheart, sometimes it takes a while to wear them down so they’ll talk. When Ty has answers, he’ll call.”

“Kyra, he’ll call,” Paula said. “Sit down and relax honey.”

“Fine. It’s just that I’ve wanted to know why for weeks now. We’re so close. No matter what answers I get, I just want them to pay for what they’ve done. The punishment will never be enough, but something is better than nothing.”

The phone rang just as the blonde reporter appeared on the screen again. She hadn’t reported anything new in hours. But they all listened anyway. Dylan answered the phone on the second ring. Kyra stood up, forgetting her cup of coffee, watching Dylan as he remained quiet, listening to whoever was on the line. Was it Ty? It had to be. Kyra held her breath, waiting.

“I’ll let her know,” Dylan said into the phone. “Thanks so much, Ty. If there’s anything we need to do, let us know.” More silence. “Thanks again. Bye.”

Once Dylan ended the call and replaced the phone on its cradle, he returned to the couch. He didn’t meet her gaze right away, though. Instead, he took a deep breath. The silence in the room stretched on for what seemed like an eternity before he began to speak. “Kyra… have a seat, honey.”

“What did he say?” She sat down between him and Paula.

“It’s over. Ty said the interview with Fox didn’t go all that well. Not at first, anyway, but Tom Perry was scared to death and couldn’t keep his mouth shut.” Dylan laughed. “It turns out that Fox and Perry got in over their heads with a bookie from the city. They owed some serious cash for gambling debts. From the looks of it, they stole city funds to pay off the bookie. Your dad happened across some documents and questioned Perry about them. Perry panicked and…”

“He killed my dad, didn’t he?”

“He did.”

“That fucking bastard killed my dad. How could he? They were friends. Best friends for years. I can’t believe this shit. It’s… wait. What about my mom?”

“Fox ordered McAllen to talk to Liz. He claims he didn’t ask him to kill her. He swears that was all on McAllen. We might not ever find out for sure. Ty thinks they were afraid your dad shared information with Liz and they needed her to remain quiet.”

“So it’s over. It’s really over now?”

“It could be months before the case goes before the courts, but for now, it’s over.”

“I’m glad you finally have answers Kyra,” Paula said. “With everything settling down, I think I’ll head back home. You two need some time alone, anyway.”

“You don’t have to leave,” Kyra responded.

“I need to get back. The store won’t run itself, and we have a few big-name authors scheduled for signings over the next few days. I can’t leave the staff alone for that. I better start packing up.” Paula stood and headed for the bedroom.

Later that evening Kyra knocked on Paula’s bedroom door, needing to talk with her friend. “Paula? Can I talk to you a minute?”

“Sure, doll. What’s on your mind?”

Dylan had left to check in with Jake at the office almost an hour ago. Kyra had sat alone thinking, but coming up with no answers to the questions she had. For days, she’d been contemplating what she should do with her life. She loved Houston and working with Paula at the bookstore, but it had never fully felt like home. Being back in Sizzle had changed her. Dylan had changed her, too.

“I never thought I’d ever say this, but I don’t know if I’m coming back to Houston.”

“Oh. I can’t say that I’m surprised. Does this have anything to do with a certain man?”

“Yes and no. I love him, Paula. I’ve always loved him. But Sizzle is home. It’s where my heart is.”

“I’m not surprised, Kyra. If you want my opinion, here it is. Leaving Sizzle allowed you to grow into the woman you are now. Coming home was fate at work. You and Dylan have something special. That’s rare, honey. I won’t tell you to stay, but I think you’ll regret it if you don’t.”

“I would regret it. He’s amazing, Paula. So amazing. I feel alive when we’re together. It’s like the whole world just falls away.”

“I think you’ve already decided to stay, doll.” Paula said.

“I guess I have.”

To celebrate the decision, Paula and Kyra a drink or two was in order. The two friends sat at the kitchen island, enjoying a bottle of wine, laughing and carrying on about all matter of things. Finally, Kyra had made a decision to remain in Sizzle permanently. Her heart soared with happiness and she couldn’t wait to share the news with Dylan when he finally got home from the office. She wasn’t sure how he might react to the news, though. In her heart, she was sure he’d be happy. They could continue their relationship and grow together. Sizzle was home. It always had been. And it always would be. As they polished off the last of the wine, they heard the front door open.

“Sounds like your sweetheart is home,” Paula giggled.

Kyra hopped off her stool and rounded the kitchen island, looking back at her friend. “Hush, Paula.”

“And just what do we have here?” a female voice asked from the door.

Kyra and Paula jerked in surprise as their eyes landed on a rough-looking young woman pointing a gun in their direction. Paula choked out a scream that would rival horror movie scream queens. Kyra stood frozen in place, her eyes locked on the gun now aimed directly at her. “What the hell, Harley?”

“Shut up! You think you’re so damn special,” Harley laughed as she waved her hand up and down Kyra’s body. “Look at you. You’ll never make him happy.”

“Is that what this is about? Really, Harley?”

“He’s mine,” Harley screamed, waving the gun around. The girl had lost it. Kyra blanched as Harley rushed forward suddenly, jabbing the gun into Kyra’s stomach. Paula watched in horror as this crazed woman assaulted her friend. Her head swung from left to right trying desperately to figure out a way to help Kyra.

Their phones were in the other room. The only exit blocked by a woman who had obviously lost her ever-loving mind. Paula eased along the counter towards the door, hoping she could slip by unnoticed and call for help. Just as she reached the window she caught the glare of headlights coming down the driveway. Thank god.

Dylan smiled as he turned off the highway into his driveway. The last few weeks, he’d enjoyed returning home more than he had in the last five years. It was all due to Kyra. He’d thought his sadness was due to leaving the police force, but that hadn’t been it at all. No. He had been lonely. It wasn’t until Kyra’s return, and their spending time together, that he fully realized that she was what was missing from his life. She was the answer. She filled that emptiness in his heart and his life. After talking with Jake, it only solidified his thoughts even more. He needed her to stay in Sizzle. He needed her to understand that he wouldn’t survive her leaving. He wanted her to stay.

Killing the engine, he stepped into the night air, took a hearty breath, and heading for the house. Tonight, he’d ask her to stay. Tonight, he’d ask her to be his forever. As he reached the bottom step he heard angry female voices. The words were muffled, but the anger was clear.

Dylan quietly eased up the porch and slowly opened the front door, the voices in the kitchen loud and clear. Kyra’s words bathed in fear turned his blood to ice. What the hell was going on here? He crept down the hall to the kitchen door. The next voice he heard stopped him dead in his tracks. Harley.

“If you won’t leave, I’ll fucking kill you. You can’t have him. He’s mine. Do you hear me bitch?”

Kyra didn’t reply. She knew Harley wouldn’t believe a word she said. Her stomach ached from Harley jabbing it into her flesh over and over again.

Dylan stepped into the doorway, his eyes finding Kyra’s immediately. Harley’s back was to the door, allowing them a heartbeat or two to silently communicate with one another. Kyra’s eyes went wide. She regretted her reaction instantly. Harley swung around, gun raised high as she reached out and gripped Kyra’s throat with her free hand.

“Nice of you to come home, lover,” Harley snarled.

“Harley, there’s no reason for this. Let them go. It’s me you want.”

“You’re right. I do want you… but this bitch… she has to go away.”

Dylan closed his eyes knowing what he was about to say would hurt Kyra, but he had no choice. He swallowed the lump in his throat, his voice thick. “She doesn’t matter. She never has. It’s always been you, baby. Come here.”

Harley smiled, lowering the gun. “Do you mean that, baby?”

He smiled weakly, feeling sick to his stomach. “Of course I do, darling.”

Kyra gasped as she watched Dylan pull Harley into his arms. When his mouth crashed against Harley’s, Kyra’s heart shattered. How could he? Paula grabbed Kyra by the arm in an attempt to run for safety while Dylan had Harley’s attention.