Silent Fall

quick, confident movements. Yet, despite his bravado, she knew that his confidence had taken a hit with Erica’s unexpected behavior. He was no doubt furious with himself for allowing her to set him up. Now he was trying to regain control of the situation by acting instead of reacting. It was a good tactic. The best defense was a good offense. But Dylan was going to need some ammunition, and what did he have except his word?
    "Once the blood tests come back I’ll be able to prove I was unconscious while whatever was happening happened," Dylan said, his thoughts following a path parallel to her own.
    "That would be helpful," she agreed. "But it will also raise more questions as to why Erica would feel the need to drug you. The detectives are going to dig into your relationship with her. They’ll want to know every last detail." She paused. "I must admit I’m curious, too. You said Erica was involved with the man you were researching, but what’s her story?" They were just a few miles from the lodge, and Catherine wanted as much information as possible before they were faced with more questions from the police.
    "I don’t know much about Erica’s past. She’s a part-time model and used to be a part-time hostess at a private men’s club that Senator Ravino frequented. She’s a party girl, hits the clubs at night, runs with a fast crowd of rich people. She likes money. She likes men with money. Except when she’s had a dozen or so tequila shots; then she’ll settle for just about anyone," he added with a self-deprecating shrug.
    "I don’t think you’re just anyone."
    "Was that a compliment?"
    "You have a mirror. You know what you look like."
    "True, but I was talking more about money, not appearances. I make a good living, but I don’t have the kind of cash to impress a woman like Erica. She has very expensive tastes, and she knows how to get what she wants, which isn’t difficult when it comes to men. She is hot."
    "I noticed."
    "That’s basically what I know about her. When we spoke, it was generally about the case I was working on and her relationship with the senator. That was all I was interested in."
    "Until you had a dozen tequila shots," she said dryly.
    "Right."
    "When Erica first sat down at the bar with you, I heard her say that she’d been trying to track you down."
    "I did have a few messages from her," he admitted, "but I didn’t call her back."
    "Why not?"
    "Because I was busy."
    "Do you ever call women back?"
    "On occasion, but this was just sex," he said with a frown. "Look, Erica didn’t drug me because she was pissed I didn’t call her. There has to be more to it than that. It has to be tied to Ravino. That’s all I can think."
    "But why would Erica drug you and leave you in the woods? Where does that get her?"
    "I suspect that’s not all she did, since my cuff link ended up in her cabin. She must have made it look like I assaulted her or something."
    "Or something," Catherine echoed.
    "You think she’s setting me up for murder?"
    "Don’t you? I can’t get rid of the image of your tie and her scarf in the water. If she wanted to set you up and make it look like she was dead, it seems logical that we would find something of hers in the water and something of yours in her cabin, tying you together."
    "I’m fairly sure there’s blood in that cabin, too, my blood." He held out his hand. "I got this sometime in the night. And the fact that I willingly volunteered for a toxicology screen also allowed the police to request DNA testing, something I should have anticipated."
    She stared at the recent cut on his skin. "This is bad, Dylan."
    "Tell me about it."
    She sat back in her seat, suddenly overwhelmed by the evidence piling up against Dylan. How on earth could he get out of it?
    "I need your help, Catherine," he said, uttering the very words she didn’t want to hear.
    "This situation does not involve me."
    "Yes, it does. You said we’re connected, remember?"
    "We are connected, but I can’t help you because you don’t believe in my visions, and that’s all I have to offer. I’m sure your lawyer friend can give you far more practical assistance than I can. So why should I stick around?"
    "Because you should," he said, giving her a quick look. "And if you do, you’ll prove to me that you’re not involved with Erica’s disappearance, that you’re not part of