Melissa Good - Terrors of the High Seas

“Liked fighting for the greater good?” Dar replied in a casual tone.

A little silence fell. Kerry dropped back against the pillows without taking her eyes off Dar. She inhaled sharply. “Greater good.” The words felt interesting in her mouth and she played with them a little, tasting their meaning. “Is that what we did?”

Dar shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s something my father used to talk about all the time—doing things for other people, or acting when it’s not in your best interests just because it’s the right thing to do.” She reached over and combed through Kerry’s disheveled hair with her fingers. “It’s what the folks in the military do, if you think about it.”

“Depending on who’s defining ‘right’ this year,” Kerry replied with a touch of wry skepticism. “But I know what you mean.” She put her arms around Dar. “Did you like doing that?”

Dar returned the embrace as they listened to the wind howl.

“I’m not very good at it,” she said. “I’d much rather take care of my own best interests than anyone else’s.”

Both eyebrows raised, Kerry leaned up on her elbow and looked at her partner. “Dar, that is such a lie,” she stated flatly.

“You put yourself on the line for me after we’d barely even met.”

Dar put a fingertip on Kerry’s nose. “That’s because you are my best interest.”

Wasn’t really much she could say to that. Kerry curled up next to Dar and shook her head. The wind was getting stronger outside, and she heard a loud bang as something hit the building. She put thoughts of the greater good out of her mind for the moment. “Are you scared?”

“Of the storm?”

Kerry shook her head. “Of what might happen. I mean…we were involved in a lot of not so legal things last night.”

“No,” Dar replied. “I’m not afraid.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Dar closed her eyes. “I’m too tired to be afraid.”

Kerry took the hint and pulled the covers up over Dar’s long frame, tucking them in around the two of them. She put her arms 340 Melissa Good around Dar and laid her head on her partner’s shoulder, feeling Dar’s muscles relax almost immediately despite the raging noise outside. The heartbeat under her ear evened out and slowed, and she concentrated on counting its rhythm.

They would weather the storm; they always had, a muzzy internal voice reminded her. Kerry thought about that, losing herself in the flicker of the nearby candle as the winds blew around them.

THE HOTEL WAS warm and clammy inside as Kerry ventured into the lobby. The power was still out, but the staff had risen to the challenge and put out a table full of relatively tasty-looking foods for the guests to pick through. Her eyes roamed the room, and stopped as she spotted Andrew seated on the porch, his hand curled around a cup. “Ah.” Kerry grabbed a muffin and walked out to join him. “Hi, Dad.”

Andrew looked up at her. “Morning, there, kumquat,” he greeted, as his eyes drifted past her shoulder. “Where’s mah kid?”

“Sleeping.” Kerry sat down and nibbled her muffin. “She was so tired last night, I thought it would be better if I let her get some rest while I scrounged breakfast for us.”

Andy nodded in agreement. “She done things to be tired from,”

he said. “She okay?”

“I think so.”

“Took them fellers up to the hospital. Looks like them bastards put a few cracks in Bud’s head, but the docs took a few x-rays and let them go on after that. Then Ah came back down here and bunked out with some of the marina folk,” Andrew volunteered.

“You could have come up to our room,” Kerry scolded. “We had plenty of space up there.”

“Nah.” Andrew took a swallow of whatever was in his mug.

“You two young ladies deserve your privacy.”

Kerry propped her chin up on her fist. “Dad, we were just sleeping.” She grinned at him. “I’m glad Bud’s going to be okay.”

“Yeap, me too.”

“Does he know it was you who pulled him out of the boat?”

“Yeap.”

Kerry studied his profile. “Not really happy about that, was he?”

“No, ma’am, he was not.” Andrew turned and looked at her.

“But how would you be knowing that all?” He set his cup down and studied his tablemate. “They say something to you?”

Kerry nodded. “Yes, and Dar told me a little,” she said. “I almost kicked Bud in the nuts a few times until he finally calmed down and stopped saying mean things.” Her fingers played with Terrors of the High Seas 341

the edge of the table. “What was up with that?”

A server came up to them with a pitcher and offered them a drink. Andrew held out his mug and they refilled it, then the server handed Kerry a cup as well.

“Thanks.” Kerry took a cautious sip, relieved to find somewhat tepid fruit juice. She sensed Andrew wasn’t comfortable discussing Bud with her, and decided not to push the subject. “I thought I saw cereal in there. Did you eat yet?”

“Ah did,” he told her. “Went down and checked out the boat.

Hull got banged up a bit, but nothing big. Should be fine to head back with.”

“Thank you,” Kerry said. “Did anyone say if DeSalliers’ boat was brought in?”

“No, ma’am.”

Kerry gazed quietly at him. After a moment, Andrew met her eyes. “Sorry if I butted in where I didn’t belong,” she told him.

Andrew’s expression softened and he blinked a few times.

“Wasn’t that, Kerry,” he answered. “Just somethin’ that burns my shorts, and Ah don’t like chatting about it.”

“Okay.” Kerry nodded. “Are you flying back home?”

“Yeap,” Andy said. “Ah figure you two got things all squared away now. Got a flight back out tonight. They ain’t reopened the airport yet,” he informed her. “Still cleaning up. Storm wracked up some fuss, but not a whole lot outside the marina.”

Kerry studied the horizon, which was clear and cloud free. “It’s funny. I almost feel like last night was a dream,” she mused. “But I know it wasn’t.”

Andrew cocked his head in a listening attitude.

“I’m glad you came out here after us,” Kerry said. “Thanks.”

A smile tugged at the scarred face across from her. “S’what a father’s for, ain’t it?”

Kerry stared off past him, her eyes distant. “Only if you’re very lucky.” She exhaled, dusting the muffin crumbs off her fingers. “I’m going to grab something for me and Dar.” Pushing against the table, she stood up, suddenly wanting to be out of the sun and back with her partner. “Maybe we can find you for lunch?”

Andy got up and patted her on the shoulder. “Lemme give you a hand with your grub, kumquat,” he said. “We maybe need a chit chat, and Ah want to see mah kid.”

Kerry smiled, feeling the tension between them ease a little.

“Okay, Dad. It’s a deal.”

They went inside to the table, which didn’t have much in the way of plates. Andrew improvised by appropriating a basket of flowers, dumping the flowers, and standing helpfully behind Kerry as she filled it. They were halfway down the table when Kerry’s path was intercepted, and she looked up to see the police captain 342 Melissa Good politely blocking her. “Oh. Good morning,” she greeted with wary cordiality. “Guess you had a busy night.”

“Most certainly, yes, Ms. Stuart. That we did,” he replied with courtesy. “I am glad to see that you are safe. Is Ms. Roberts safe, as well?”

“Very much so, yes,” Kerry told him, noticing his eyes flicking over her shoulder. “Oh, I’m sorry. This is my father-in-law, Andrew Roberts. Dad, this is Captain Alalau, of the St. Thomas police.”