Read Online Copper River by William Kent Krueger - Free Book Online Page A

might as well stay put.”
    Cork wasn’t a hundred percent convinced. “With his money, Jacoby can throw a big net,” he said. “Tell me about Lou.”
    “The Winnetka police are keeping a lid on everything about Ben’s murder, so I don’t know.”
    The door opened. Cork had never seen anybody move as fast as Dina. She was out of her chair and had spun around before he could blink.
    Ren was obviously startled by her presence, but he looked even more surprised by the gun that had materialized in her hand from nowhere.
    “Easy, Dina,” Cork said. “It’s Ren. He’s family.”
     
    She was a woman like the cougar Ren had imagined. Her hair was that color, her movement that swift, her eyes that focused, knowing, and hungry. She was probably the size of the cougar, too, should the animal stand on its hind legs. She looked every bit as dangerous.
    “Close the door,” she said.
    Cork saw the boy’s wariness and wanted to put him at ease as quickly as possible. “Come over here, Ren. I want to introduce you.”
    Ren had a tray in his hand that held a covered plate of eggs and bacon, a small glass of orange juice, and a cup of coffee. He went to the table, put the tray down, then walked to the bunk. His heart beat against his chest like a boxer working a bag. His eyes never left the gun and the woman who held it.
    “You’re making a horrible first impression, Dina,” Cork said. “Put your gun away.”
    She looked Ren over a moment longer, then as quickly as she’d produced the gun she flashed a smile. The Glock slid into a holster under her sweatshirt, and the same hand that had threatened Ren was held toward him, open and empty.
    “How do you do? I’m Dina Willner.”
    He shook her hand warily. It felt strong as a man’s, but different, too.
    “Ren DuBois,” Cork said, because Ren, who was still trying to put everything together, hadn’t replied. “Dina’s the friend I called last night.”
    “Oh.” Ren nodded slowly.
    “Are you always this talkative?” Dina asked.
    “Huh?” Then he got it. A joke. He smiled.
    “Sorry about the gun.” She patted the place where it was holstered. “You surprised me.”
    Ren wondered if he’d surprised her any more, would he be dead?
    “Mom asked me to bring Cork’s breakfast.” It sounded apologetic, a little pathetic, and he didn’t like that. He stood straight and as tall as he could. Even so, his eyes were not quite level with the woman’s. “I didn’t see your car. I didn’t even hear you drive up.”
    She took the chair she’d been sitting in, flipped it around, and sat down again with her arms folded over the back. She continued to study him with her green, catlike eyes.
    “I came through the woods,” she said.
    “You should be careful. There’s a cougar out there.”
    “What I carry would stop a bear.”
    “You wouldn’t shoot him,” Ren objected.
    “I’ve never harmed a thing that wasn’t trying to harm me. If I run into this cougar, what do you suggest I do?”
    Ren glanced at Cork, who was enjoying the conversation immensely.
    “First, you never turn your back on a wild animal,” Ren said seriously. “You should stand as tall as you can, get up on a tree stump or something to make yourself look even bigger. It sometimes helps to wave your arms and shout. Usually, unless you’re threatening its young, it will leave you alone.”
    “You’ve had that experience?”
    “It’s what I’ve read.”
    He stood awkwardly, aware that he’d interrupted something and should probably go, but he wasn’t sure. Adults weren’t easy to figure.
    Dina’s stomach let out a long growl. “Sorry,” she apologized. “I haven’t eaten this morning.”
    “I could fix you something,” Ren offered.
    She laughed. “The last time I had a man fix me breakfast, it turned out to be beer and corn dogs. What I’d really like is a latte.”
    “Do you like kolaches ?”
    “Do you make kolaches ?”
    “No, but the Taylors do. In town. Really good