He put the papers back into the drawer and closed it, then went to the first file drawer on the right hand side. Inside, a series of hanging files were lined up in a typically neat row, labeled with the senator’s projects.

Most were empty. Kyle frowned, thumbing through them. “I know these weren’t finished. Don’t tell me someone’s come in to get them already. I’ll have them skinned.”

He shoved the files towards the back, then hesitated as he felt resistance. Pulling the folders forward, he craned his neck to see what was blocking them in the back of the drawer. “Maybe they fell down in there…Eh, what’s this?”

He tugged out a manila envelope, its edges frayed and par-tially split. It was fairly thick, and he put it down on the desk, opened it, and looked inside.

The scent of paper and laser ink hit him. Curious, he removed the first few pages and tilted them towards the light on the desk to see better. “Ah hah,” he whispered and chuckled softly under his breath. “Now here’s something I can use.”

He read further, a look of consternation appearing on his face. “Where in the hell did he get this?” he wondered aloud, then his eyes narrowed. “And why didn’t he tell me about it?”

He drummed his fingers on the desk, then picked up the envelope and tucked it under his arm as he got up to leave.

“Maybe that’s why he put a stop to my plan of stripping those contracts.” He chuckled as he headed for the door. “Now I can kill two jackasses with one grenade.”

MUCH LATER IN the evening, Dar found a moment to pause and lean against the wall, hoping the ordeal was almost over. It had been a very long night, with a lot of stress, and her shoulder had gotten so painful, it was hard for her to move her arm without screaming.

But now, people were leaving. That was good.

Good riddance. Dar felt very little empathy for the wool suited, hostile eyed people who surrounded her beloved partner with appraising stares and veiled comments. Family, yes, but almost all of them either resented Kerry for what she’d done to her late father, or for her current lifestyle. Or for her choice of life partners.


146 Melissa Good Fuck them. Dar mentally enunciated the words with grim satisfaction. She then looked up as she felt someone approaching. Ah.

“Hi, Dad.”

Andrew Roberts found a spot on the wall next to her and claimed it. “Hey there, Dardar,” he rumbled softly. “You don’t look so hot.”

Dar sighed inwardly. She’d never had much luck in fooling her father about when she wasn’t feeling well. “No, you’re right.

I’m tired and grumpy, and my shoulder’s killing me.” She saw Kerry walking across the room towards her with a forceful and determined stride. “Uh oh.”

Andrew chuckled. “Hey, Dar?” He eased closer and motioned with his jaw to the reception room doorway where Kyle was standing, just watching Kerry. “Who is that feller?”

“An asshole who deserves to be run over by a Mack truck,”

Dar replied without thinking. “A total bastard who made Ker’s life a living hell for a long time.”

“Yeah?” Andrew’s voice was gentle.

“Yeah,” Dar answered, before she greeted Kerry. “Hi. Bet you have a headache.”

Kerry had opened her mouth to speak, and this statement derailed her a little. “Um...yes, I do, as a matter of fact. How did you know?”

“Same way you know it’s time for me to go get more drugs,”

Dar replied with a faint smile. “Unless you’re ready to retire for the evening.”

With her back turned to the room, Kerry looked up at Dar, and for a moment her determinedly cordial mask slipped, revealing a rawly anguished expression. Her voice, however, remained quiet. “I think I’ve had about enough for the night, yeah. If I have to hear one more person come up with one more euphemism for you and me being lovers, I may have to kill someone.”

There was an awkward silence. Kerry glanced up to see Andrew scratching his jaw. “Sorry, Dad. I figured you already knew.” She peeked at Dar, almost smiling at the faint blush. “I mean, you are a sailor and a man of the world and all of that stuff.”

Andrew chuckled. “I surely did know, kumquat. I just usually call you two sweethearts, is all.”

That coaxed a smile from Kerry. “Did my mother invite you two to stay over?”

”Yes.” Ceci appeared on Kerry’s other side. “Now that I’ve spent the evening bludgeoning your relatives with highbrow art talk. Good goddess, Kerry—you have a more annoying family than I do, and Andy will tell you that’s quite the radical state-Thicker Than Water 147

ment.”

Kerry sighed. “Thanks.” She looked around. “I hope you insulted the hell out of them. They deserve it.”

“Yes, they do,” Ceci said. “Tell you what. Let’s plan on getting your people together with my people some time, and we’ll bus them off to the Dade County Fair. I’ll take pictures.”

Andrew snorted and chuckled under his breath.

“They don’t deserve the funnel cakes,” Kerry said dryly.

“C’mon, let’s get out of here, Dar.”

Angie stuck her head around the corner of the doorway.

“Kerry, they want to get one more set of pictures, then we’re done.”

Aggrieved, Kerry sighed again. “For what? This is supposed to be a solemn occasion, Angie. I feel like we’re performing s…”

she glanced at Andrew and half smiled, “…bears.”

“The local paper.” Angie gave her an apologetic look.

“They’re doing an entire special section on him.”

Kerry closed her eyes. “Great.” She opened them and looked at Dar. “Why don’t you go on upstairs; I’ll meet you there in a few minutes. I need to have a word with my mother, anyway.”

Dar considered for a moment, then nodded. “All right.” She pushed away from the wall, and gave Kerry a gentle rub on the arm before she circled around her and headed for the door.

After a moment, Andrew caught up to her. Dar started to say something, then just decided to conserve energy and remained silent, ignoring the curious looks as they left the reception room and headed for the wide, open staircase. Cameras popped in the foyer as they crossed it, and Dar winced at the bright light. “What the hell’s that for?” she muttered.

Her father merely looked at her and snorted, shaking his head.

“Ms…ah…Roberts.” One of the reporters stepped into her path. “Can we get a moment to talk with you?”

Several choice replies came to mind, but then Dar recognized the lapel badge as one of the major business papers and decided Alastair didn’t deserve all the grief. “Sure.” She put a hand on the stair banister and waited. “What can I do for you?”

The man and his companion closed the distance between them as he took out a pad. Dar was mildly relieved no cameras were involved and decided to be patient and wait for him to get his act together. “Did he really rate the Wall Street Journal?”

The man looked up and gave her a half grin. “He was involved in a lot of behind the scenes issues.”

“Ah.”

“For instance, we know he’s been promoting an investigation 148 Melissa Good that calls into question the government contracts ILS has been given this past year. Did you know that?”

Dar took a moment to absorb the unexpectedly public information. “I did. But I try to stay clear of political entanglements—

our legal department handles that.”

“Your company would have been badly hurt if it’d been successful,” the man said. “So I guess that makes this an opportune event for you, huh?”

Dar remained quiet for a few breaths, balancing her inner feelings with her responsibilities. “People dying is never an opportune event, mister. No matter what he was up to, and no matter how he felt about ILS, he was still my partner’s father.”

“Even after those hearings? Pretty nasty,” the man said. “No one’d blame you for holding a grudge.”

“I don’t waste my time on grudges,” Dar lied in a sincere voice. “I don’t think he did, either. But it makes good press, doesn’t it?” She redirected the attack with a smile.

The man’s eyebrows quirked. “Someone else could pick up the ball there, y’know. Those contracts are worth a lot of money.”

Dar shrugged. “All our contracts are worth a lot of money, and that’s why we pay the legal department. I suggest you talk to them if you need any more details.” She lifted her hand off the banister and took a step back. “Excuse me.”

“Thanks for chatting, Ms. Roberts. Have a good night,” the reporter replied courteously. “Sir.” He gave Andrew a nod, before he turned and rejoined the milling crowd.

“Pansy ass,” Andrew grunted.

“Shh.” Dar muffled a short laugh. “C’mon.” She turned and walked up the stairs, shaking her head.

Dar was glad to get away from the noise and the crowd. She didn’t like them to begin with, and the pain was shortening her already ragged temper. “Damn, I wish I was home.” She sighed as she reached the door to the green room.

“Ah bet.” Andrew opened it for her. “Let me take a look at that there arm of yours.”

Dar’s brow edged up.

”Don’t you give me that look.” Her father scowled at her.

“Git.”

“Yes, sir.” Dar entered the room with Andy and closed the door. The room was dark, as they’d left only one lamp on, and she let out a silent sigh as she absorbed the quiet, dim peace. She kicked her shoes off first, then pulled her jacket off and froze in mid motion, clenching her jaw against a gasp.

“Easy there, Dardar.” Her father caught up to her and gently eased the jacket off her shoulders. “Lemme see that…Good Lord.”


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