Page 31 of Colton’s Secret Identity

“I’m not really in town, not as myself anyway.” Dylan detested keeping anything from his twin, but just as with the rest of his family, the less said the safer. “I have been talking to Cal more lately.”

Aiden’s short bark of laughter reminded Dylan that if they were face-to-face instead of on the phone, his shoulder would smart from Aiden’s good-natured jab. “Gotcha. I don’t need to know what you’re both doing, but call me ignorant if it doesn’t have something to do with the Jane Doe I found out at the Grasshopper stop.”

“No one ever said you were dumb, Aiden.” They both laughed at Dylan’s words. “It’s okay to tell you that she’s been identified, and seems to have had a not-great life before you found her, but that’s all anyone really knows.”

“Judging by how much naloxone nasal spray our EMTs go through in a week, I’m just going to assume it has to do with the influx of fentanyl and heroin. As if the meth isn’t enough of a problem.” Aiden referred to the lifesaving drug administered nasally to drug users who’d OD’d. “You know what gets me? We save some young kid’s life with two puffs of the spray. They go from flatline to normal in a matter of seconds. You’d think they would never want to take it again, or at least beg to go to a rehab. Most of the time they get up and walk away, either from our gurney or the ER where we took them to be checked out. That’s if they’re of age. Minors have to be kept until their parents are notified, but the parents can’t stop them from using again. The street drugs are so potent, all they’re thinking about after being resuscitated is the next fix.”

“It’s rough for the ones who want to try to quit, too. I’ve heard that the rehabs in these parts are full, that it takes up to a week to get a bed.” Dylan had gleaned that from one of his conversations with Cal when they’d been catching one another up on the intel they each had.

“We have a firefighter in our department whose younger brother did opt for rehab. Turns out going out of state is the best option so that they don’t have to face down their dealer again.” Aiden paused. “I was so happy for the family, man.”

“It’s a vicious circle, but that sounds like a good report.” Dylan wished Veronica had experienced a similar result for Tawny. He shifted the burner to his other ear. “How are you doing, with all the extra workload?”

“You’re really asking if I’m upset over finding that almost-dead woman.” It wasn’t a question, and Aiden knew it. They’d always shared an inexplicable silent communication often attributed to twins, no matter that they weren’t identical. Physical appearance had nothing to do with how their minds were so often in sync. “I’m fine, Dylan. Probably as good as you are, doing whatever crazy stunts your job asks of you.”

“We’ve always both been risk-takers, that’s a fact.” Dylan grew silent. He wanted to share everything with the one sibling who knew him best, but he couldn’t talk about the case.

“How’s it going on the woman front? Any significant improvements since you left Red Grove?”

“Ah, that would be a ‘hell no’.” But Aiden didn’t laugh at his humorous brush-off.

“You’re not going to find anyone if you keep disappearing for months on end.”

“That’s a brilliant observation—” Dylan couldn’t help the spar “—and the same could be said of you with all the extra shifts you take.”

“Except now I’ve found my match, Dylan.”

“Lucy?”

“Yes. I didn’t think it would happen to me, but she’s changed me.”

She’s changed me. The same words Cal had used about Jules.

“You still there?”

“Yeah, I’m here, but I don’t have anything to contribute except to say that I’m happy for you, Aiden.”

“Thanks. And listen, Dylan, don’t think that life as you know it will end if you commit to someone.”

“I honestly haven’t given that any thought,” he lied.

“Bull crap. You’re afraid that you won’t be able to be free as a bird, living undercover the way you like to.”

“Maybe.” Lately being undercover wasn’t the thrill it had once been.

“The right woman actually gives you freedom, in truth.”

“Again, I’m happy for you, but why exactly are we talking about this?”

Aiden snorted. “Me thinks my twin is a wee bit defensive. Who is she and what’s her name?”

“You’re hilarious. Look, I gotta go.”

“Of course you do. Seriously, though, you take care of yourself. Let’s get together before you blow town again.”

“You, too. I promise we’ll catch up, maybe by Halloween, at the folks’ place.” His mom used to throw big Halloween parties when they were young, but the tradition had died off as her career got busier, and Dad, well, their father had always had his plate full of surgeries. Then the divorce had put an end to many of their celebrations, but the siblings still liked to get together for treats and laughs.

“Halloween’s not far off. You really think you’ll solve all of Stark County’s problems by then?” Aiden’s graver tone indicated he was only half jesting.