Page 48 of Final Approach
Of course he would make it all about him. She bit her lip on the words she wouldn’t allow herself to utter. “Well, why don’t we just focus on helping her heal? And grieve. Remember, one of those friends died.”
“You didn’t tell her that, did you?”
She gaped at him. “Of course not!”
“Right. Sorry. Good.”
Kristine sucked in a calming breath. “Why don’t you go home for a few hours and get some sleep? I’ll stay with her and doze in the little chair.” His face would probably not be the one Emily wanted to see when she was able to stay awake a little longer. And goodness knows, she didn’t need their father saying anything upsettingto her. Like blaming her for not listening to him and being in the car in the first place.
He frowned. “No, I think I’ll stay here.”
“Suit yourself.” Kristine returned to the room and checked on her sleeping sister once more. The nurse walked in to do the same. A loud growl from Kristine’s stomach raised the woman’s eyebrows, and Kristine held up a hand. “No need to say anything. I’m going to grab something to eat.” She looked back at her sister. “What if she wakes up, though?”
“I’m going to be here for a few minutes. If she wakes, I’ll tell her you’ll be right back.”
Kristine nodded. “Deal.”
She left the room, noting her father was gone, and made her way down to the main floor where smells from the cafeteria grew stronger. At the sight of Andrew she stopped while her heart did a little happy dance. He was with two other agents and Hank, who had a phone pressed to his ear. She decided her stomach could just hold on a minute and headed toward them. Hank hung up and pushed his way out of the hospital. The agents and Andrew followed.
Kristine stopped, disappointed that he left before she could get his attention. She snorted and shook her head. She was acting like a lovesick teen. She spun on her heel and headed to the cafeteria, grabbed her food, and made her way back to her sister’s room. Her father hadn’t come back yet. Emily was still sleeping. Kristine’s phone buzzed with a text from her aunt Wendy, her mother’s sister.
I’ve been delayed. Will be there as soon as I can.
Kristine tapped back.
No worries. I’m here and so is Dad. Somewhere. Ethan is on the way.
I’ve talked to Ethan. Think he’s having travel problems too.
Just be careful.
Will do. Love you, kiddo.
They were all “kiddo” to their aunt. She glanced at her watch. Visitors in the ICU were limited to thirty-minute increments. She’d stay until she was kicked out.
She texted Andrew.
Everything okay with you and Hank? I saw you guys on my way to the cafeteria, but didn’t want to interrupt. Hank looked upset.
She waited for the little dots to tell her he was responding. It took a minute, but they finally showed up.
We’re as okay as we can be. Hank learned someone from the gang turned up dead. It’s someone he’d been pumping for information and had gotten pretty tight with. He’s shaken, but handling it.
He thinks the guy’s dead because of him?
Yes. The guy was supposed to keep an eye on him. He believes that because Hank disappeared on that guy’s watch, he was killed. So he’s blaming himself.
Oh my. I’m sorry.
I am too. He’s sad, but dealing. Going to get him settled. Check in and let me know how Emily’s doing. I’m praying.
Thank you.
She reread the messages once more and said a prayer for Hank. She didn’t envy those who went undercover. It was a hard, risky, dangerous job. But someone had to do it. And in spite of her father’sinsistence that her job was going to get her killed one day, her flights weremostlyboring.
And that was the way she liked it.
HOURS AFTER HIS LASTTEXTwith Kristine, Andrew lay in the strange bed in the unfamiliar house in a city that was starting to feel more like home than the one his house was located in. It didn’t help that his wound throbbed a bit. Enough to be annoying, not enough to make him want to get up and take anything.
