Page 34 of Searching for Valor

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I happen to agree. From what you’ve told me about her, it doesn’t add up. So what’s our next move?”

Our.

Her heart stuttered in her chest. Did he really want to help her, after everything that had happened? Or was he just being kind, the way he was with everyone who needed him?

Rylan pulled into the cabin’s driveway and cut the engine. The Redwood Coast Rescue vehicles were gone, but several Lost County Sheriff cruisers now blocked her Jeep in. Asking them to move was going to be fun. If her encounter with Cole Reed was any indication, her former colleagues wouldn’t be eager to do her any favors.

Rylan turned in his seat to face her fully, his eyes searching hers. “Okay, so let’s think this through. If Monica was running from someone, who would that be? Her ex?”

Izzy gave herself a moment to seriously consider it, playing with the idea that Gavin Holt could be behind this mess. She’d always liked him well enough. He’d never pinged on her radar as a bad guy. He’d never really pinged on her radar as… anything. He was clean-cut, handsome in a generic sort of way, kind of bland. He was also a little too immature for his age, living like he was still a college frat boy rather than a man on the downward slide to forty with two kids. If he’d ever loved Monica, it hadn’t lasted long, but he did love his kids. He just didn’t love the inconvenience of fatherhood. So why would he file for custody with such horrible lies about Monica when he was perfectly happy being a part-time father?

She realized Rylan was still waiting for her answer and shook her head. “I don’t think so. From what I remember, their divorce was relatively amicable. They just… got married way too young, right after Grace was born, and I don’t think they ever really wanted the same things. I’m honestly surprised the marriage lasted for as long as it did.”

“When did they end it?”

She had to think about that. “Uh, five or so years ago?”

“Hmm,” Rylan murmured, rubbing a hand over his beard. “And there haven’t been any issues with him since then? No fights over custody or child support?”

Izzy shook her head. “Not that I know of. Like I said, they were pretty amicable. It was hard on the kids, especially Noah, but there didn’t seem to be any hurt feelings on either side. Gavin’s not a bad guy, he’s just… kind of a man-child. He likes being the fun weekend dad but I can’t see him wanting full custody.”

“Is it possible Gavin has gotten his act together and wants to be more involved now?”

It was possible, she supposed. Five years was a long time. Long enough for Gavin to mature, to realize what he’d given up. But still, something about it didn’t sit right. “Why would he lie about her mental health?”

“Maybe he’s not lying.”

Izzy tamped down that familiar flare of anger. Getting defensive wasn’t going to help when he was just trying to look at the problem from every angle. “I would know if something was wrong with Monica.”

Rylan shrugged, his gaze drifting away from hers as he absently drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. “People can be really fucking good at hiding how much they’re struggling. Sometimes you don’t even realize how bad it’s gotten until it’s too late.”

Those words felt heavy, loaded with more meaning than they should have.

Izzy studied his profile, noticing the tightness in his jaw, the flicker of something raw and unguarded in his eyes. For a moment, he wasn’t the steady, unshakable Rylan Cross she’d always known. He was someone else entirely—someone tired, weighed down, and maybe just as lost as she felt.

“You think Monica’s been hiding something from me?” she asked carefully, though something told her the conversation had shifted away from Monica.

He didn’t look at her, his fingers still tapping a restless rhythm. “Everyone’s hiding something.”

“Even you?” she said softly.

He gave a humorless laugh. “Especially me.”

An ache bloomed in her chest, and the need to say something, to push past the walls he’d so carefully built, was overpowering. But before she could find the right words, he exhaled sharply and shook his head.

“We’re getting off track,” Rylan said, his voice regaining its usual steadiness. “Let’s focus on what we do know. Monica came to you convinced someone had taken her kids, and the trail cam footage proves she was right. So who else would have motive to do that, if not the ex-husband? Has she mentioned anyone new in her life recently? Any conflicts or strange occurrences?”

Izzy stared at him for a long moment, her heart squeezing painfully in her chest. Once again, she wanted to reach for him, to offer comfort, to help him fight whatever demons had put those shadows in his beautiful eyes, but she wasn’t sure it would be welcome.

So instead, she wracked her brain, trying to remember every detail from her recent conversations with Monica. There had to be something, some clue she was missing...

Then it hit her. “Wait. A few months ago, Monica mentioned she had started dating someone new. She only mentioned it once, but the fact she told me about him at all is weird. She’s dated on and off—mostly off—but usually when she talks about her dating life, she just laments how men hate that she’s more focused on her kids than them.”

“Did she say anything else about this new guy?”

“Not much. Just that he was charming and that things were going well.” She frowned. “But that was months ago. Before—“ She broke off. Things were going so well between them that she loathed to bring up what happened three months ago. “Well, I, uh, haven’t been a great friend recently.”

“Could be nothing,” Rylan mused, “but it’s worth looking into. Do you remember his name?”

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