Monk (K19 Security Solutions 7)

“Thank you for being here,” she said.

“Is there anything you need?” he asked several minutes later.

Saylor scrubbed her face with her hand. “Mom and I are going to need a place to stay,” she murmured.

“I’ll take care of it.”

Saylor rested her hand on his arm. “Thank you.”

He covered her hand with his. “One room or two?”

“Just one. Mom and I will share.”

When Monk stood to leave, Saylor did too. “You’re coming back, right?”

“Yes. I’m coming back.”

“HE’S AWAKE,” Saylor told him when he came back an hour later. She walked over and stood in front of him, close enough to touch. “I can’t explain it,” she whispered, “but I feel better when you’re here. I hope you don’t think—”

Monk put his fingers on her chin and looked into her eyes. “Do you believe in angels?” he asked, also whispering.

“I guess I do.”

“I had a sister. She’s an angel now.”

“I’m sorry, Monk.”

He shook his head. “Sometimes I feel like she leads me where I need to be.”

4

“Are you ready to go, Mom?” Saylor asked.

“I am, but you can stay if you want to.”

Saylor shook her head. “Monk made arrangements for us to have a room at the hotel connected to the hospital.”

“How thoughtful,” she responded, looking at Monk.

“I can walk over with you,” he offered. He led them out of the ICU and down one floor to a bridge connecting the hospital to the hotel. As they walked, he kept his hand on the small of Saylor’s back. She liked feeling it there.

When they got to the lobby, Monk pulled out a small envelope containing key cards and handed it to her. “Your room is on the tenth floor.”

“Thank you,” she murmured. “Are you leaving?”

“No. Doc booked every room on the floor.”

“I didn’t realize there were so many people here.”

“There aren’t.”

Saylor smiled. She’d heard Razor say before that Doc was generous to a fault, and he wasn’t complaining when he’d said it.

Monk led them to the elevator. “Have you eaten?” he asked while it took them to their floor.

Saylor shook her head. “I don’t remember the last time I ate.”

“I can bring you something,” he offered.