Chapter 6

Within ten hours, Alyson, Avi, and I are all walking off a plane onto Alaskan soil. "Thanks for coming with me," she says. "I don't think I would have handled that plane ride alone with not knowing if Tyler is okay."

"No problem," Avi says. "I didn't like the idea of you going alone either."

"Plus, this isn't our first rodeo with this," I say. "We can help you find him and we're going to."

"Aly!" I hear a familiar voice call. A tan skinned guy with a bun walks over as Alyson barrels into him, hugging him tight. "It's good to see you too, Aly," he says as he returns her hug.

"I've missed you," she says. "I just wish this were better circumstances.

"Who are these two?" the guy asks as he points to Avi and me.

"These are my cousins," Alyson says. "Ms. Blue-hair is Chloe and the one who could pass for my sister is Avi. Believe it or not, Avi isn't actually related to me but Chloe 'adopted' her so she's my cousin too." She looks back at us and says, "Guys, this is my best friend, Michael."

"Nice to meet you both," Michael says as he shakes our hands. "And thank you for coming with Aly. I know she needed the company and the more eyes the better. I just want Tyler safe."

"It's not a problem," Avi says. "We just want to help."

"Great," Michael says, "then let's get moving." He grabs our bags and leads the way to his car.

The cold December air almost stuns me as we walk outside. I turn to Avi who is already shivering. "Come on, Florida girl," I chuckle as I wrap an arm around her and pull her along.

Alyson turns around and chuckles a little, "Yeah, Alaska's pretty cold this time of year."

"Where are you guys from?" Michael asks.

"I'm from Oregon," I say. "But Avi's lived in Florida almost her whole life."

"Then Alaska is probably cold to you all year round," Michael chuckles. "How did you two manage to meet up living on opposite ends of the continental U.S.?"

"I was kidnapped," Avi says, "and my kidnapper brought me to Oregon. Chloe found me and saved me."

"Aly wasn't kidding when she said this isn't your first rodeo," Michael says. "Then I'm even more appreciative of your help."

"Of course," I say. "I think Alyson's practically family at this point." I give Alyson a wink as Michael throws the bags in the back of his car and we all pile in.

"I can't believe Tom is your father," Michael says to Alyson. "It makes so much sense why he and Tessa treated you the way they did now…I just still can't believe it."

"I feel you there," Alyson says. "All these years and he never once said a word. I found letters he wrote to Mary Ann while Tyler and I were cleaning out the house asking her to get an abortion when she was pregnant with us. Even offered to pay for it."

"What?!" Michael says stunned. "So much for him being pro-life. I for one am grateful she didn't. I would never have met two of the most important people in my life had she listened to him." Alyson gives him a small smile before he asks, "Do they know?"

"Yeah," Alyson says looking back at us with a smile, "we had a big heart-to-heart last night. Shared all our deep dark secrets and pains."

"Oh yeah?" Michael asks with a chuckle. He pauses and asks, "You really think that Tom wrote that article?"

"I can't think of anyone else it could be," Alyson says. "He was there that night. Tyler saw him and when we confronted him about being our father, he admitted to being there."

"If he was there, why didn't he even help?" Michael asks with an angry tone.

"We asked him that and he just said he panicked," Alyson says, matching Michael's tone. "His story was the same in the article though…that Mary Ann said that she wasn't going to hurt Tyler. But that's not what we saw…she threatened Tyler. She was going to kill him" Alyson looks down in her lap and I gently put a hand on her shoulder.

"I believe you, Aly," Michael says, putting a hand on her wrist without taking his eyes off the road. "Can I ask you a question though?"

"Shoot," Alyson says numbly.

"The article mentioned something about Tyler not being the one who actually stabbed your mother," Michael says. "I've been around both of you a lot and I feel like I know you really well. Anytime it comes up, Tyler either gets angry or seems he's completely over the whole thing. You want to avoid it or get panicked over it. Maybe you two are just wired different but I also know you well enough to know that something like that would wreck you if you were the one to do it." Michael squeezes Alyson's hand. "I haven't thought any differently of Tyler being told he was the one who did it. I've had my suspicions for a while but I didn't want to bring anything up that might hurt you. I know you're still struggling with it all and I want to better help you."

Alyson curls into herself a little and starts to shake. She takes a few deep breaths before nodding, "It was me. I haven't told anyone within Delos Crossing. Tyler was the only one who knew and I guess Tom. Eddy doesn't even know. Tyler wanted to take the blame for it…and I let him."

"Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me," Michael says. "I don't think of you any differently for it. It was an awful situation you both were put in and I wouldn't judge anyone for how they dealt with it. I still love you, Aly."

"Thank you," Alyson says as she leans her head on Michael's shoulder for a moment. "I love you too."

Michael lets out a long sigh. He pauses before asking, "Do you really think Tom is capable of hurting Tyler?"

"I didn't think he was capable of blackmailing us the way he did," Alyson says. "He was willing to stand by and watch what happened to our mother and watch her threaten Tyler. I'm not sure I'd put it past him." Alyson let's out a sob as she buries her face in her hands.

"If something happens to him," Michael begins with a strained voice, "I don't know what I'll do."

"We'll find him," Avi says putting a hand on each of their shoulders. "I promise." They turn and put a hand on top of Avi's and nod.

Michael sniffs, as he pulls into an apartment complex. He pulls into a parking spot, throwing the car in park. He takes a breath before saying, "So, what's the plan?"

"It's probably best for you to stay at your apartment in case he comes back," I say to Michael. "Avi is our best bet to try and track him down, I have a gun, and Alyson could probably talk to Tom should we have to."

"Is Hoonah where I think it is?" Alyson asks.

"Yeah," Michael says. "It's not far from Delos. I don't mind you taking my car but the road will only take you so far. You'll have to walk the rest of the way." He looks at Alyson, "Are you okay with going? I can go with them if it's too much for you."

"I need to go," Alyson says. "I need to lay eyes on Tyler. And if we run into Tom, I need to talk to him."

"Alright, I'm trusting you, but please keep me posted," Michael says as he hugs Alyson. "Be safe. All of you. Bring him back safe."

"We will," Alyson says, a few tears trickling down her face. Michael steps out of the car and Alyson walks around to the driver's side. "You two ready?" she asks as she slips into the driver's seat. We both nod as she starts up the car and drives off toward Hoonah.