Free Restless in the Grave by Dana Stabenow Page A

if a little better-looking and in a lot better shape than most.
    Especially the one in the lead, who looked very familiar. “Who’s that?” Kate said.
    “Huh?” Chouinard was still looking at the jet.
    Another man came bustling out of the office, hand outstretched. He was short and a little pudgy with thinning hair and an unctuous manner. He wore a khaki safari suit and a red scarf knotted around his neck that made him look like he might be partnered up with Crocodile Dundee, a natural mistake he corrected at once. “Hugh Reid, Mr. McGuire,” he said in a nasal voice. “We met once before, I’m sure you don’t remember. I am—I was—I am Finn Grant’s partner.”
    McGuire took Reid’s outstretched hand in a brief clasp. Reid seemed to want to hang on, but McGuire managed to divest himself and gestured vaguely at the posse behind him. “Hugh Reid, guys. Finn’s partner. Are you a pilot, Hugh?”
    “Er,” Reid said, “I’m afraid not, no.”
    “I see. Then in Finn’s, uh, regrettable absence, who will be taking us out to the lodge?”
    “Why don’t we just take the jet?” This from a short, thin man with thick glasses and a nervous manner.
    “Because, Willy,” one of the other guys said, “no way is Gabe landing this baby on gravel.”
    McGuire smiled at Kate over Reid’s shoulder. “Lester would kill me if I did. Hi. Gabe McGuire.”
    “Hi,” she said, and didn’t smile back.
    Reid trotting at his elbow like he was attached by an invisible leash, McGuire reached her in one long stride. His grip was warm and firm, and like Reid’s had a tendency to hang on. He looked her over and didn’t mind letting it show that he liked what he saw.
    “Sorry,” she said, baffled, “have we met?”
    A quiet laugh went around the entourage. McGuire held out his hand to Chouinard. “Hello. You’re Liam’s wife, right?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “And if memory serves, you’re a pilot.”
    “Uh-huh.” Chouinard was still staring at the jet.
    He glanced at the hangar. “You work for Finn Grant?”
    That did get her attention. “No,” she said, very definitely. “I run my own business.” She jerked a thumb at the Cessna behind them. “Nushugak Air Taxi Service.”
    “Yeah? You rated on single Otters?”
    “Yeah,” Chouinard said, realizing this conversation was heading toward money in the bank. “You need a ride out to your lodge?”
    He nodded. “Five passengers total, and a daypack each.”
    Chouinard jerked another thumb at Kate, now reduced to baggage. “I’ve got to run my passenger to Newenham and drop off the mail first.”
    “No problem. We’ll make ourselves at home here while we wait.” He smiled at Tasha, who visibly melted right down into her four-inch heels. “If that’s okay with Tasha.”
    In a fluttery voice Tasha said, “Of course, Mr. McGuire.”
    “Gabe.”
    Tasha blushed. “Gabe.”
    Reid said, “Okay, Tasha, show these gentlemen to the lounge. We’ve got showers, Internet access, beds if you feel like a nap. Satellite television, DVDs, a full bar, Tasha can whip you up some sandwiches—”
    He stood back, holding the door open and beaming over his shoulder at McGuire— See how efficient I am? How well I am taking care of your people? May I sacrifice a goat at midnight in your honor? —as the other men filed inside.
    Chouinard said, “Okay if I ask your pilot for a tour of your jet?”
    McGuire was amused. “Sure.” He waved a hand at one of his men. “Les, show Ms. Chouinard the baby.”
    “I haven’t seen anything that perfect since the first salmon steak of the season,” Chouinard said, walking toward the jet.
    She wasn’t talking about McGuire. He grinned and got out of her way.
    Mutt came up, having marked out her territory at Eagle Air, and cocked an ear at McGuire. He went down on one knee and held out his fist, palm down. “Hey,” he said. “I’m Gabe. And you are?”
    She sniffed his hand. They both looked at Kate.
    “Mutt, meet Gabe,” Kate