The Sirena Quest by Michael A. Kahn Read Free Book Online Page A

them toward the door.
    Lou turned.
    Brandi Wine stood in the doorway, dressed in a flowery peasant dress and sandals.
    She smiled at Abigail. “Hello, Miss Washburn.”
    Abigail was still gawking at Brandi, dumbfounded. Finally, she whispered, “Melinda Bennington.”
    Another long pause. Abigail shook her head in wonder. “My heavens, dear, we all thought you were dead.”
    Brandi glanced over at Ray, who rolled his eyes.
    â€œNo, ma’am,” Lou said. “Miss Bennington is alive and well.”
    Abigail looked sharply at Lou. “And just who in Sam Hill are you, buster?”
    Lou gave her a friendly smile. “A friend of Miss Bennington’s.”
    Abigail frowned at Lou, but after a moment her attention shifted back to Brandi.
    â€œMy dear,” she said to Brandi, her voice gentle, “everyone thought you were on that train with your parents. It said so in the newspaper. We thought you perished with them. My heavens, there is even a gravestone for you in the family plot. I have been there. I have seen it myself.”
    Brandi smiled and curtsied. “But here I am.”
    Abigail nodded, pensive. “Henry thought you were killed. Oh, my, the poor boy has been so distraught, Melinda. So brokenhearted. But you are alive, dear!” She clasped her hands and pressed them against her chest. “Thank goodness.”
    Her eyes widened and she put her hand against her mouth. “Oh, wait until I tell Henry this glorious news! I shall write him today. Oh, you must write him, too, Melinda. You must! My heavens, Henry will be so gratified.”
    Brandi sat down on the edge of the bed. “Does he ever mention me?”
    â€œOh, yes, in many of his letters.” She took Brandi’s hand in hers and patted it affectionately. “He still loves you, my dear. He loves you so much. Of that I am quite certain.”
    Brandi smiled. “I used to adore his letters. Do you still have any?”
    â€œDo I still have them?” she asked with feigned irony. “Of course, dear. I saved them all.” She leaned back in bed and gave Brandi an appraising look. “I declare, Melinda, you look marvelous. I am positively rapturous that you are still alive.”
    â€œYou have all of his letters?” Brandi asked.
    â€œOh, yes. Every last one of them.”
    Lou watched in wonder as Brandi actually blushed. She moved close to Abigail. “Can I read what Henry says about me?”
    â€œCertainly, dear. I have them all right—” She stopped and turned to glare at Lou and Ray. Leaning toward Brandi, she whispered into her ear as she eyed the two men.
    Brandi nodded. “You’re absolutely right.” She turned to Lou and Ray with a severe look. “Gentlemen, you will have to leave us now. Miss Washburn and I have private matters to discuss.”
    â€œCertainly, ma’am.” Lou stood up. “We were just on our way out. C’mon, Mr. Gorman.”

Chapter Nine
    â€œThink she ever has visitors?” Ray asked.
    Lou looked up from a dog-eared issue of Better Homes and Gardens . They’d been waiting in the lobby for almost an hour. He shrugged. “Does she have any family left?”
    â€œNope. It was just her and her brother. Neither of them married.”
    â€œSo, no nieces or nephews,” Lou said. “Maybe cousins? Check the sign-in book.”
    Ray walked over to the narrow table in front of the reception desk and Lou returned to “The Man Next Door” column at the back of the magazine. His mother had subscribed to Better Homes and Gardens for as far back as he could remember. He hadn’t actually looked through an issue since he left home for college, but most of the contents were exactly as he remembered them. Indeed, as he skimmed through the jokes in “The Man Next Door” column, he found himself asking the same question he’d asked back in high school: Are there readers out there