Silent Fall

into my life. Two women, you said: One is danger; one is salvation. If Erica is danger, then you have to be salvation. You’re the only one here who fits the bill."
    "You’re used to getting your way, aren’t you? Don’t bother to answer. That was a rhetorical question. I’ll say one thing: You’re persuasive, and very good at arguing all sides of a discussion."
    "So, have I convinced you to stay?"
    "For the moment. Then we’ll see." She gave him a small smile. "What you don’t realize is that by asking me to stick around, you’re putting yourself directly in my line of vision, so if you have any secrets don’t expect to keep them."
    Her words made him uneasy, but he told himself to get over it, because if he didn’t believe in her visions then he had nothing to fear. She might be a little more perceptive than most people, but he’d learned a long time ago how to hide what he was thinking or feeling. He could keep her out of his head, and he would keep her out, because there was a part of him he couldn’t let anyone see.
    "So what’s next?" Catherine asked.
    He was relieved by the question. They were getting back to business, what he did best. "I need to check out my room in the lodge, see if Erica left me any surprises there."
    Upon entering the building, Dylan felt like a marked man. The man and woman working the reception desk both gave him long, wary stares. And when he requested another room key, the woman looked very much as if she wanted to say no, but in the end she just handed him a key and asked him to be sure to check out by eleven o’clock.
    "I’d like to stay another night," he said.
    "I’m sorry, but your room is booked for today," the woman replied. "You’ll have to collect your belongings and check out."
    Dylan could see the firm resolve in her eyes. Management obviously wanted him out of there as soon as possible. He couldn’t blame them. Having a possible murderer or assault suspect staying in the hotel was bad for business.
    "I’ll go up and pack." He paused. "Has there been any new information on the missing woman? Did the sheriff search the woods?"
    The woman hesitated, then shook her head. "I know some people have been looking, but I don’t think they found anything."
    "That’s too bad," he muttered. "Thanks."
    "No problem. I hope everything was satisfactory for your stay."
    "It was just dandy," Dylan drawled as he walked away. "Apparently I’m presumed guilty until I’m proven innocent," he said to Catherine as they headed across the lobby and got in the elevator. "Management definitely doesn’t want me hanging around."
    "But the sheriff does. Where will you stay?" She groaned at his pointed smile. "Not with me."
    "Hopefully it won’t be for long. Once things are cleared up, I’ll return to San Francisco, and you’ll get back to your life."
    "What if things aren’t settled before tonight?"
    "How do you feel about having a roommate?"
    "Not thrilled. My room has only one bed, so you’ll be sleeping on the floor," she warned.
    "If you insist." He grinned as her cheeks flushed. She certainly wore her emotions on her face. He wondered what had gotten her so worked up now. He knew he should leave it alone, but he couldn’t help himself. He liked seeing her rattled. He didn’t appreciate being the only one off balance. "Is it me you don’t trust, Catherine? Or yourself?"
    "What? You think I can’t resist you?"
    "It’s a question."
    "A stupid question. Maybe if you weren’t always thinking about sex, you wouldn’t be in this mess. Did you ever consider that? If you hadn’t slept with Erica and avoided her calls, she might not have been inclined to help anyone set you up for murder."
    "I told you before, she didn’t do this because I didn’t call her back. She wasn’t in love with me. We weren’t having a relationship. We were both on the same page."
    "Or so you thought. Never underestimate the fury of a woman scorned. When you tell a woman you’re going to call her, you should call her."
    "Just for the record, I didn’t tell her I would call her." He followed her off the elevator. "I don’t make promises I can’t keep." He paused. "It sounds like you’re speaking from personal experience. Have you missed a few calls over the years?"
    "Men can be pigs sometimes."
    He smiled at her bluntness. He liked the way Catherine