“You’re definitely learning to do nice,” she qualified. “You need to practice a bit harder with your sisters, but I think you have the makings of a fine older brother.”

“Thanks.” For some reason her words meant a lot to him. “Now shut up and let’s go.”

“Dylan—”

“Enough, Piper. Let me be a gentleman for the brief time I have it in me. Tomorrow, it’s likely I’ll be back to the surly bastard I was.”

She studied him and no doubt battled between pride and a need for his support. Her nod was brief.

“Okay, let’s do this.”

“Atta girl.”

Dylan got out and met her on the pavement, holding out a hand. She didn’t hesitate, slipping hers inside and gripping his tight.

“You need a minute?”

“No, I have to do this for Joanie and Grace. I need to get to that little girl and let her know she’s not alone.”

He led her up the ramp and inside the building. Piper asked to see Lieutenant Heath, the man who had contacted her. Then they sat and waited. As far as waiting rooms went it wasn’t as bad as some he’d sat in. Dylan kept her hand in his, balancing it on his thigh, and wondered if Piper realized she was leaning into him.

“Miss Trainer?”

Dylan and Piper looked up as a middle-aged man entered. Average height, with gray hair cut short, he was dressed in a shirt and tie.

“Yes.”

They got to their feet as Piper answered him.

“Come this way.”

She gripped his fingers hard.

“I’m here,” Dylan said as he followed her through the door. They were led to an office and then asked to sit again. Lieutenant Heath sat behind the desk.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Miss Trainer.”

“Thank you. Can you tell me where Grace is?”

“She’s on her way here now with a social worker.”

Piper nodded.

“A neighbor found a note under her door this morning, stating she needed to come to Joanie’s apartment as she was ill. She called the building’s manager to open the door when no one answered, and they found Miss Prentice dead. It was an overdose. The baby was in her cot playing with her toys.”

“She told me she’d st-stopped.”

“When did you last see her?”

Dylan sat silently listening, watching. He was good at that, had been trained to observe. Piper answered the questions the man asked her, and while he was direct, Lieutenant Heath was never forceful or aggressive. Had he been, Dylan would have stepped in.

“Can you tell me anything about her boyfriend, Miss Trainer?”

“I only know him as Jace.”

“You ever meet him?”

“Once. I called in to see Joanie and Grace and he was there. I didn’t like him.”

“Why?”