Page 1 of Come to Me

CHAPTER 1

Everything in Michaela “Micki” Kincaid’s rebuilt 1951 Chevy 3100 was from the era except the radio. Ten years ago, when she and her dad had taken the broken-down wreck and brought it back to its former beauty, the one thing she insisted on was the ability to hear good music.

“It doesn’t fit,” her father griped.

“Good music always fits.”

She’d been right. She drove the cherry red truck up the mountain toward Kincaid Lake, the small family resort she called home after running a few errands in Charlotte Tavern. The heat and humidity were scorching but with air conditioning (also not from the era) she drove happily singing along to the upbeat tunes sent by Bluetooth from her phone to the stereo system.

Dr. Sydney McKenna’s friend, Dr. Patrick Andres from New York City, would be arriving at the resort today, so Micki went to pick up a few items to make sure his visit was the respite Sydney said he needed. In the back of the truck, she had a few new floatation devices for the lake, new used books to add to the shelves in his cabin, a few decks of cards, and board games. They had several games at the main lodge, but most had pieces missing. She also picked up the groceries her mother asked for and a new toy for her nephew Tate. She hoped it would cheer him up, and yet she knew no toy could fix the loss of his mother.

She came around the corner on the two-lane mountain highway two miles from the lake when she saw a spiffy SUV on the side of the road. Next to it was a man in dark dress slacks and a white shirt as if he’d just left a business meeting. He was hunched over the back tire looking completely out of place.

She pulled up behind him. Being from that part of the area, she felt mostly comfortable helping strangers. But she wasn’t an idiot. She tucked her little sig Sauer p238 her father got her into the back pocket of her overalls and carried her mace as she got out of the truck.

“You need some help?”

The man looked up. Sweat covered his face and chest where he’d unbuttoned his shirt. The man belonged on a men’s health magazine. Except for the scowl.

“I’ve got it, thanks.” His tone told her he wasn’t in a mood for help.

She walked over to him to examine his handy work. “You didn’t put the wheel wedges down. I can do that if you want.”

“I said I can do it.”

She pursed her lips wondering if he was surly by nature or had a problem with a woman offering to help. Either way, the handsome grump didn’t want her help.

“Suit yourself.” She went back to her truck, put her gun and mace back in her bag, and watched him for a minute. “How much do you want to bet that’s our Dr. Andres?”

What a way to start a vacation. She considered offering assistance again, but then decided he’d been clear that he didn’t need her help.

She started the truck and pulled out onto the road. She gave him a friendly double honk as she drove past.

Back at the resort, she parked in her usual spot, and started bringing items into the main lodge that served as the front office, gathering area for guests to eat and hangout, as well as her parents’ residence. Mickaela had a small studio apartment downstairs with its own entrance.

“Oh Micki, you’re back, thank goodness.” her mother scurried toward her in a tizzy. With the resort floundering financially, her mother was hoping Dr. Andres’s visit might spark more interest from posh New Yorkers to visit.

“What’s wrong mom?” Micki put the grocery bags on the kitchen table.

“I just want to be ready for Dr. Andres when he gets here.”

“You have some time. I’m pretty sure it was him I passed trying to change a flat tire on the side of the road. He could be there all night.”

Her mother gaped at her. “You didn’t stop to help him?”

“Of course, I did. But he didn’t want help. At least not from me. I suspect we’ll need to call him Dr. Andres as well.”

“He’s one of those New York types?” Her mother’s tone dipped into disappointment.

“Maybe he was just cranky to be changing a tire. I’ve got more stuff in the truck and then I’m going to check the roof. The weather calls for the possibility of a storm tonight and I want to make sure the fix holds tight.”

“If you bring the grocery bags in, I’ll put it away.”

“Okay. I got him some books too. Dr. McKenna said he liked to read. I’ll take those down later.”

Micki finished unloading her truck and then went to the shed next to the house to get her tool belt and the ladder. The hot and humid day felt ten times worse on the black shingles. She went over the repair she’d made earlier, making sure it was securely fastened and waterproof. Feeling satisfied, she put her tools away and was about to move to the ladder when a dark SUV pulled in.

She checked her watch. Not bad. He’d figured out how to change a tire.

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