Read Online Thicker Than Water - DK5 by Melissa Good - Free Book Online

would help matters.”
    “Ah.” Maria folded her hands. “ Si , that is right. I remember now.” She seemed at a loss for words. “I feel for Kerrisita, though.
    She has always felt such trouble with her family. Is there something we can do? Send something to them?”
    Dar paused in the doorway to her office, considering the question. “For them? No.” She gave Maria a direct look. “But call the Marriott in Saugatuck and make sure Kerry gets treated to the best service they have there. I booked her a suite, but upgrade her Thicker Than Water 39
    to the best they have, and have them stock it with the works.”
    “ Si .” Maria smiled. “I will do that, Dar.” She glanced at the door, where voices were growing louder. “Now, I think you maybe will change, yes?”
    “Yeah.” Dar grimaced and swung the door closed after her.
    “Before they start snapping pictures.”
    KERRY TOOK A deep breath as she walked down the airline ramp from the plane. It had been two uneventful flights, and now that she was finally there, she wished they’d been longer. The white of the ramp gave way to dull brown brick and the familiar sights of the airport near her home.
    A quick glance around told her she wasn’t being met, not that she’d expected to be since she hadn’t informed Angie of her flight plans, but part of her felt a tiny bit disappointed, all the same. On second thought, maybe that was for the best, Kerry decided, as she shouldered her bag and headed off towards the rental car counter.
    Best for me to do this on my terms, right? Isn’t that what I told Dar?
    She thought about that as she walked. Keeping a little distance from everyone seemed like a good plan, especially since tensions would be high, the press would probably be present, and the last thing anyone needed was a family spat right in the middle of a crisis.
    In fact, on the way up, not going at all had crossed her mind several times. It was only Angie’s quiet finality that had pushed her forward, knowing in her heart that staying away and letting her father die without at least saying goodbye to him was something she just wasn’t capable of.
    Or am I?
    Kerry sighed unhappily and stepped up to the counter. “I’d like a car, please.” She’d picked the chain ILS usually used from habit.
    “For how many days, ma’am?” the young man behind the counter asked politely.
    Good question. “A week.” Kerry supplied her credit card and Florida driver’s license.
    “Thanks.” The man took them and keyed in something, then paused, evidently surprised at something. “Oh, Ms. Stuart . We already have a reservation here for you.” He handed back her card. “ILS is taking care of it.”
    One of Kerry’s eyebrows lifted. “They are, huh?” She found herself unable to be upset with Dar. “Okay.” She took the prof-40 Melissa Good fered keys and went outside, wincing as the cold wind bit her face. “Ugh. Forgot about that.”
    She tugged her jacket closed and zipped it, then searched out her assigned car and opened the trunk to toss in her bag. Hospital first , she decided. Let’s find out the bad news. She got in the car, then drove carefully out of the parking lot and onto the icy streets.
    It wasn’t that big a town and the drive to the hospital was fairly short. At midday, the place didn’t seem that busy, and she parked in the half empty visitor’s lot. She spotted a news truck parked near the back entrance, though, and several cars haphaz-ardly pulled up near it, and her suspicions were confirmed when she entered the main doors and saw the cluster of men and women, complete with cameras, standing nearby.
    Will they recognize me? she wondered. The national news people had pegged her in DC, but it had taken a while, and these locals hadn’t seen her in a few years, if at all, given the turnover rate.
    Certainly, if they were old timers, they wouldn’t expect the girl they’d known in lace blouses and knee length skirts, with carefully