Andy shifted. “’Cause that young lady ain’t afraid of much, and she’s scared of him; and I want to know why that is. And

’cause he makes mah eyeballs itch.”

How should I answer that? Dar wondered. So much Kerry had told her was so very private, and she knew her lover had kept it that way for a reason. Would she want anyone else to know?

Would she want anyone else to hear the things she’d finally told Dar, getting past that one last barrier before she committed herself to their relationship?

Maybe not.

There had been shame in Kerry’s eyes when she’d told her. It was a secret she’d held inside for a long time, and something she’d offered up to Dar in a trembling voice, as though somehow it might have made her feel differently about Kerry. Instead, it had just made her angry she hadn’t been there to stop it.

As she considered, Dar peered down at her hands, clenched together and tensed. Her mind went over Kyle’s vaguely threaten-ing manner. Would he try to hurt Kerry further? Her brow creased, then she nodded a tiny bit. He’d try to make her as miserable as he could, wouldn’t he?

She lifted her eyes and found her father patiently watching her. “I think…I think the worst thing he did to her…” She paused, trying to find the right way to phrase her thoughts. “I think the worst thing he did was he forced Kerry to see just how little she counted as a person with her own parents.”

“Mm.” Andrew considered that. Then he glanced sharply at her. “How?”

Her father sensed something, Dar realized suddenly.

“He…did something to her, and when she told her parents, they didn’t believe her.” She hesitated. “They believed him and made her apologize to him, and he laughed at her.”

Andrew got up and sat on the bed next to Dar. He looked into her eyes with a serious expression. “Paladar, did that man hit her?”

“No.” Dar felt suddenly back in adolescence, facing the one person she had never lied to, and had always trusted more completely than anything or anyone else in her life. “He raped her, Daddy.”

Andrew went very, very still, not even breathing for a long, long moment.

Dar blinked and was surprised to feel the warmth of tears rolling down her cheeks. She wiped them away with an irritated swipe of the back of her hand. “How could they not believe her?

Damn! I could never understand that.”


Thicker Than Water 151

Andrew remained very quiet for a moment, then he exhaled and took Dar’s hand, carefully folding his fingers around hers. “I thank the good Lord that you cannot understand that.” His voice was low and a touch hoarse.

Dar studied the scarred hands holding hers. “Dad?”

Andrew looked up at her. “Hm?”

“Sorry I gave you such a hard time when I was a kid,” Dar said. “I didn’t realize how lucky I was.”

Andrew shifted, then circled her with one long arm and gently hugged her and brushed his lips over her hair as she tucked her head against his shoulder.

“KERRISON, A MOMENT, if you please?”

For a long beat, Kerry almost said no. Then she exhaled and walked to her mother. The press had disassembled their equipment, and the hall was almost empty, and she wanted nothing more than to escape and find Dar and just get a hug. “Yes?”

Cynthia glanced around, then looked at her. “I know this evening was terribly upsetting for you.”

Kerry shrugged. “It was more or less what I was expecting. I don’t think we’ll be staying for the service tomorrow.”

Cynthia’s lips compressed. “Oh dear.” She sighed. “Perhaps if I speak with them—”

“No.” Kerry lifted a hand. “Don’t bother. I’ve paid my respects and said my good-byes.” She paused, considering her words. “Anything more is just a farce, and we all know it.”

“But—”

“Besides,” Kerry brushed aside the objection, “I’ve had about as much of Kyle’s slimebag presence as I’m willing to take in this lifetime.”

Cynthia remained silent for a moment. “His return was unexpected. Your father did depend on him so. He placed great value on him.”

“I know.” Kerry looked her right in the eye. “More so than on me. I remember that very clearly.”

Cynthia fell silent, visibly biting her lip.

“Excuse me.” Kerry stepped around her and walked towards the foyer. She met up with Angela and Michael as they came out of the library, almost as though they’d been lying in wait for her.

“Hey.”

“What a bitch of a day, huh?” Michael fell in at her side as they walked towards the stairs. “Think tomorrow will be better?”

“I don’t give a damn,” Kerry replied. “We’re out of here in the morning.”


152 Melissa Good

“Oh,” Michael murmured.

Angie put a hand on Kerry’s back as they started up the steps.

“If it’s any consolation to you, the snarky comments got nicer as the night went on. Even Marsha had to grudgingly admit you take grace under pressure to new heights.”

“Fuck them,” Kerry said. “They can all collectively kiss my ass.”

Her siblings maintained a slightly shocked silence for a few steps. “Well,” Michael finally said, “okay. But I bet Dar would start throwing them out the windows if they tried.”

“That might be fun to watch,” Angie said.

Kerry gave them both pointed looks, then she exhaled, her shoulders dropping and losing some of their tension. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay, sis.” Angie put her arm around Kerry’s waist, and Michael did the same from the other side as they walked up the steps together. “Did you know the governor knows Dar’s father?”

No, Kerry hadn’t known that. “Really? Small world, I guess.

Oh, wait. He’s ex-Navy, isn’t he?”

“Yeah,” Mike said. “He said Dar’s father is one of the scariest people he’s ever known.”

“Mm.” Kerry shrugged. “I don’t think so; not now anyway.”

“I like him,” Angie said. “And I like Dar’s mom. She’s so funny.”

“Funny?” Michael snickered. “You didn’t hear her talking to Uncle Edgar. He had no idea who she was. I mean, he knew she was a famous artist, but he had no clue. I guess he didn’t make the connection because she doesn’t look anything like Dar. So he’s going on and on about how horrible everything is, and man, she took him to pieces.” He moved his free arm in a slashing motion.

“Whack...whack…whack. Just ripped him to shreds. It was great.”

He laughed. “She told him having met him only confirmed her theory that you should have a license to enter the gene pool.”

Kerry felt a tired laugh emerging and she allowed it. “She’s really sharp. I know that’s where Dar gets it from, but Dar isn’t wicked like that. Ceci goes right for the jugular in small words she’s sure are going to be very clearly understood.” She smiled briefly. “I’m sorry they decided to go back to the hotel tonight.”

She glanced at the top of the stairs. “Maybe we should have too.”

“Hey,” Angie gave her a squeeze, “I know it sucks, Ker, but don’t begrudge us the few minutes we’ve spent with you, okay?

We do miss you, regardless of what the rest of these jerks say.”

They were at the top of the stairs. Kerry stopped and regarded them both, then she pulled them into a hug. “I miss you guys, too. I’ve hated losing that part of my life.” She swallowed back tears.


Thicker Than Water 153

They stood blocking the landing in a clump for a long moment, then they all released each other and exchanged glances.

Angie pursed her lips and put a hand on Kerry’s cheek. “Get some rest, sis.”

“Thanks. You too.” Kerry managed a smile, then walked away.

THE RINGING OF the cell phone made her jump. Dar turned from where she’d been standing at the window watching the odd snow fall and went to the side table. She picked up the phone, opened it, and checked the caller id before she put it to her ear.

“Evening, Alastair.”

Alastair released a long breath before he spoke, and that alone put ice cubes in her gut again. “Evening, Dar. How’s everything there?”

“Sucks,” Dar replied succinctly. “Her family sucks, my shoulder sucks; about the only good thing I can say is that her damn father’s dead.”

“Saw the news. They sure put a show on there, eh?”

“Jackasses. I had the Wall Street Journal sniffing at me about those damn contracts. I sent them to Ham.”

“Good thought. Guess they wanted a sound bite.”

“Guess they wanted me to admit I was glad he was dead.”

Alastair remained silent briefly. “Ah. Well, then, I’m sorry it has to be me to add more misery to your night, Dar, but this call couldn’t wait.”

Dar sighed. “Now what?” Her mind ran over the possibilities and she didn’t like any of them.

“Just got off the phone with the general,” Alastair said. “It’s gotten public that Stuart had that information.”

Dar’s eyes closed. “How did that happen?”

“Someone told someone, who told someone else. You know how it is.”

“Shit.”

“Mm.” Alastair sounded more resigned than upset. “I’d say that describes this entire situation to a T. But regardless, the deal’s off if that stuff’s still out there, and apparently the general’s heard it is.”

Dar was silent, her eyes focused on the soft pastel wall opposite her. “Well, it’s there somewhere, since I gave it to him and I doubt he burned it. Want my resignation in person or via a letter?

I can’t change what I did.” Her throat caught a little on the words.

“I’m not even sure I could say I’d do it any differently, even now.”

Alastair absorbed her statement in pensive quiet. “Any 154 Melissa Good chance you could get those papers back? I mean, you’re right there, Dar. I’m sure he kept them close. If those were recovered, the general said he’d be all right, I think.”

“He probably made copies.”

“Dar, don’t make it more complicated than it is,” Alastair said. “If he said he’d be satisfied with the damn papers, then let’s give them to him, all right?”

She accepted the fact that he hadn’t rejected her offer of resignation with a curious sense of personal loss, mixed with a rueful pride that at the very least, she’d done it her way. “I doubt I could find them, Alastair. People are crawling all over this place. I’m sure my rummaging through his office won’t be a viable option.”

“I see.” Alastair sighed. “Well, tell you what, Dar. Why don’t you come see me after this whole thing is over, hm? Just let Bea know when you’re headed out.”

Dar’s chest tightened. “Okay.” She managed to keep her voice even. “I will.”

“Goodnight, Dar. Take care.” Alastair’s tone gentled. “And give Kerrison my sympathies, too, hm? She looked a bit put upon on the tube.”

“Okay. I will. Thanks, Alastair.” Dar closed the phone and stared at it, then she simply shook her head and tossed it onto the table. Now what? She’d thought they were okay, and now…

Well, hell. “Screw it. Screw them, screw Gerry, screw it all.

This is one damned decision I refuse to regret,” she announced to the uncaring green walls. “All of them can kiss my ass.”

She walked to the window and watched the damn snow fall as she waited, trying to dismiss the conversation from her mind.

Kerry didn’t need to deal with all this now. Neither of them needed to. They’d get out of there, and go home and then…

There’d be plenty of time for them to think about it later.

KERRY TRUDGED DOWN the hallway and reached the door to their room with a sense of definite, finely drawn relief. She turned the knob and poked her head inside, finding pale blue eyes alertly watching her from the bed. “Hey.” She entered and closed the door, then leaned against it. Dar was sprawled on one side of the plush, canopied bed, her laptop resting on her thighs and her dark hair in appealing disarray.

“Hey,” Dar replied. “I was about to come looking for you.”

Kerry had to smile. “Like that?” She indicated her lover’s state of undress.

“Mmhm.” Dar nodded. “Barefoot and all. I figured I couldn’t possibly attract any more attention than I already had today, so Thicker Than Water 155

what the hell?” She held out a hand. “C’mere.”

Kerry shed her shoes on the way to the bed as Dar shifted the laptop, and they somehow ended up in a warm tangle of limbs and bedding in the middle of the comforter.

“Uhrg,” Kerry groaned.

Dar pulled her closer and rubbed her back with her fingertips. “Kerry, Kerry, Kerry,” she murmured on a breath. “It’s over, sweetheart. It’s over and done with.”