Read Online Red Knife by William Kent Krueger - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: William Kent Krueger
Ads: Link
years before coming home. Cork had hired him as a deputy in the Tamarack County Sheriff’s Department. Although Reinhardt proved to be a good officer, coming back to Aurora might not have been the best choice for him. It put him close to his father, and Dave Reinhardt found himself caught in the sweep of Buck’s relentless ambitions.
Cork always figured it was Buck who was ultimately responsible for Dave Reinhardt leaving the department. When Cork resigned as sheriff and a special election was held to fill the position, Buck boasted that his son would be the next man to wear that badge. Then Marsha Dross threw her hat into the ring. Buck had a field day with that. A week before the election, he took out an ad in the Aurora Sentinel that read, “Dave Reinhardt for sheriff. He’s the only one with the balls for the job.” It got a good laugh in town, but at the polls it had a different effect. Dave Reinhardt lost by a landslide, a result that most people understood was less about his qualifications and ability than it was a backlash against his father. Dave resigned as deputy and took the job as chief of police in Yellow Lake.
“Cork. What are you doing here?” Dave accepted the hand Cork offered and gave it an agreeable shake. He was taller than his father and softer in his features.
“Looking for Buck,” Cork said. “Have you talked to him today?”
“I was here earlier when Ed Larson and the BCA agent questioned him and Elise.”
“What do you think?”
“I think he didn’t kill the Kingbirds, if that’s what you’re getting at. When the shootings went down, he was home with Elise.”
“That’s what they both say, all right.”
Reinhardt squinted at him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Dave, I drove out here last night. Buck wasn’t around.”
“I know. He got home after you left. You just missed him.”
“See, that’s the thing. There’s only one way into Skinner Lake and one way out. If Buck got home just after I left, I’d have seen him coming down that road. And I didn’t.”
“You reached the highway before he turned off.”
“Maybe. But I headed directly to the Buzz Saw, where Buck had just got himself thrown out. If he went straight home from there, as he and Elise claim, one way or another I’d have passed him.”
“Could be a lot of explanations.”
“Let me hear one.”
“He’d been drinking. He pulled off the road to piss.”
“You were there when he was questioned this morning. Did he mention that?” When Cork didn’t get an answer—which was answer in itself—he went on. “You’re Buck’s son, but you’re also a cop, Dave. Think like one.”
Reinhardt crossed his arms and leaned back against his vehicle. “Elise said Kingbird sent you here last night. Kingbird’s out of the picture, so what’s your interest now?”
“Aren’t you worried about her safety and Buck’s? With Kingbird gone, it’s hard to know what the Red Boyz might do.”
“Buck can take care of himself.”
“He’s gone a lot. That leaves Elise here alone. I’m thinking it might be best if she went to visit her family for a while.”
“She’s like Buck in a lot of ways,” Reinhardt said. “You couldn’t run her off if you tried. She’s pretty handy with firearms. I’ll suggest she keep one of Buck’s rifles loaded and within reach.”
“Going away would be safer for everybody.”
“Thanks for your concern, Cork. I’ll take it from here.”
Reinhardt moved past him and headed toward the house. He mounted the steps, knocked at the door, and was let in. Cork climbed into his Bronco and left.
Supper was over when he arrived home. Annie had taken her brother and Trixie to Grant Park for an evening romp. Jo fixed him a roast beef sandwich and he pulled a bottle of Leinenkugel’s from the refrigerator to wash it down.
“We ate on the patio,” Jo said. “It’s a little chilly, but if you put on a sweater it’s nice. How about we sit there?”
She
Cork always figured it was Buck who was ultimately responsible for Dave Reinhardt leaving the department. When Cork resigned as sheriff and a special election was held to fill the position, Buck boasted that his son would be the next man to wear that badge. Then Marsha Dross threw her hat into the ring. Buck had a field day with that. A week before the election, he took out an ad in the Aurora Sentinel that read, “Dave Reinhardt for sheriff. He’s the only one with the balls for the job.” It got a good laugh in town, but at the polls it had a different effect. Dave Reinhardt lost by a landslide, a result that most people understood was less about his qualifications and ability than it was a backlash against his father. Dave resigned as deputy and took the job as chief of police in Yellow Lake.
“Cork. What are you doing here?” Dave accepted the hand Cork offered and gave it an agreeable shake. He was taller than his father and softer in his features.
“Looking for Buck,” Cork said. “Have you talked to him today?”
“I was here earlier when Ed Larson and the BCA agent questioned him and Elise.”
“What do you think?”
“I think he didn’t kill the Kingbirds, if that’s what you’re getting at. When the shootings went down, he was home with Elise.”
“That’s what they both say, all right.”
Reinhardt squinted at him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Dave, I drove out here last night. Buck wasn’t around.”
“I know. He got home after you left. You just missed him.”
“See, that’s the thing. There’s only one way into Skinner Lake and one way out. If Buck got home just after I left, I’d have seen him coming down that road. And I didn’t.”
“You reached the highway before he turned off.”
“Maybe. But I headed directly to the Buzz Saw, where Buck had just got himself thrown out. If he went straight home from there, as he and Elise claim, one way or another I’d have passed him.”
“Could be a lot of explanations.”
“Let me hear one.”
“He’d been drinking. He pulled off the road to piss.”
“You were there when he was questioned this morning. Did he mention that?” When Cork didn’t get an answer—which was answer in itself—he went on. “You’re Buck’s son, but you’re also a cop, Dave. Think like one.”
Reinhardt crossed his arms and leaned back against his vehicle. “Elise said Kingbird sent you here last night. Kingbird’s out of the picture, so what’s your interest now?”
“Aren’t you worried about her safety and Buck’s? With Kingbird gone, it’s hard to know what the Red Boyz might do.”
“Buck can take care of himself.”
“He’s gone a lot. That leaves Elise here alone. I’m thinking it might be best if she went to visit her family for a while.”
“She’s like Buck in a lot of ways,” Reinhardt said. “You couldn’t run her off if you tried. She’s pretty handy with firearms. I’ll suggest she keep one of Buck’s rifles loaded and within reach.”
“Going away would be safer for everybody.”
“Thanks for your concern, Cork. I’ll take it from here.”
Reinhardt moved past him and headed toward the house. He mounted the steps, knocked at the door, and was let in. Cork climbed into his Bronco and left.
Supper was over when he arrived home. Annie had taken her brother and Trixie to Grant Park for an evening romp. Jo fixed him a roast beef sandwich and he pulled a bottle of Leinenkugel’s from the refrigerator to wash it down.
“We ate on the patio,” Jo said. “It’s a little chilly, but if you put on a sweater it’s nice. How about we sit there?”
She
Similar Books
