“It also points to the fact it was Piper, as there are no other suspects. Sounds pretty incriminating to me.”

“You’re an FBI profiler. You of all people should understand that even though something appears bad, often there’s another angle to look at it from.”

He did, and saw it all the time in his world.

“Christ, I don’t want it to be her.” He exhaled loudly. “I really don’t want it to be her, but... hell, I freaked out when Mom told me, and I—”

“Put your foot so far inside your mouth you nearly choked on it?”

Dylan grunted his agreement. Everything Fin said, he’d already thought up. He of all people knew what an intelligent criminal could do, but he’d acted before thinking, accusing Piper.

“I saw Joe about an hour ago. He told me everything, and said he hoped that wherever you were it was a long way from him because he’s pretty sure he’s going for your eye next.”

“He can try, but this time he won’t be so lucky. I was looking away, and he caught me off guard.”

“Hardly the act of a gentleman, but still something I would have done had I been there. Piper has always been special to me.”

She was special to Dylan too... or had been before he’d accused her of attempted murder.

“When I first came here to Ryker, she was only young and finding her way, a bit like me. We became friends and looked out for each other, because while we had the Trainers, we both needed a special someone to relate to, and she was it for me.”

“I should have waited before going to see her,” Dylan said. “But I was angry and confused.”

“It’s fair to say you messed up big-time, bud.”

Dylan exhaled loudly.

“I’ve met plenty of scumbags in my lifetime, Dylan, and believe me when I say she’s not one of them. Piper Trainer is one of the sweetest, most loyal, and loving women I know. And it’s lucky for you I’ve calmed down or I’d be blackening your eye about now for Joe.”

He drank more tea, enjoying the warmth.

“Okay, let’s go.”

“Where?” Dylan straightened.

“Your friend Mickey is here, and I came to find you.”

“And you’re telling me this now?”

“I had a few things to say first. Now hustle it along, it’s cold out here.”

Dylan found himself following Fin to his car and getting in.

“You people are weird.”

“Not weird, just real.”

Mickey was waiting for Dylan at the lodge, in the room where he had played pool with the Trainers.