Boundary Waters Read Free Page A

of her mother, someone with Indian blood. That’s why I thought it might be you.”
    “I don’t know anything about your daughter, Willie. What’s your worry exactly?”
    “See, Shiloh’s been under the care of a psychiatrist for a while. Drug abuse, depression. She’s tried suicide before. When the letters stopped . . .” He looked up at Cork like a man staring out of a deep well hoping to be thrown a rope. “All I want is to know for sure my daughter’s alive and okay. Will you help me?”
    “How?”
    “You could start by helping me find the man who guided her in. That’s all.”
    Out on the lake, a motor kicked in. A couple of hundred yards from shore, a boat began to troll, gently wrinkling the perfect surface, leaving a wake that rolled away from it like a blue silk flag on a listless breeze.
    Cork shook his head. “A man with Indian blood? That could be a pretty tall order. Half this county has some Anishinaabe blood in them. I’m not the sheriff around here anymore. I just run a hamburger stand. I think you should go to the proper authorities on this one.”
    “I can’t take a chance on publicity,” Raye said, looking stricken. “If word got out that Shiloh was somewhere up in the woods here, those tabloid reporters would be on this place like dogs on a ham bone. No telling who’d be out there looking for her. Shiloh gets more than her share of letters from psychotic fans. My God, it would be like open season.” He threw away the remains of the leaf he’d torn apart. The broken pieces drifted away, shuddering as the sunnies nibbled at them, fooled by their size and color and sudden appearance, which mimicked insects lighting on the water. “Look, I know you don’t really know me. But I’m not just asking this for me. If Marais were still alive, she’d be the one doing the asking.”
    Cork rubbed his arms to generate some heat. He could feel in his legs and shoulders the stiffness from his run. “I have a business, Will. And I don’t do police work anymore.”
    Raye stood up and desperately took hold of Cork’s shoulder. “Help me find her and I’ll pay you enough to retire tomorrow.”
    “I don’t know if I could help you find her.”
    “Will you try? Please?”
    Behind the serving window, Annie screamed. Cork looked her way. The scream had been one of excitement, not terror, but it made him think. What if Annie were the one out there? Or Jenny? One of his own. He’d be desperate, too. Circumstance alone had saddled Willie Raye with this burden. It wasn’t Cork’s business or responsibility, but he said, “You say you got a letter every week. And all were postmarked Aurora?”
    “Yes. There wasn’t much in them that I could see would be any help. But maybe there’s something y’all would pick up on. You’re welcome to look at them. They’re back at my cabin.”
    “Where are you staying?”
    “Grandview.”
    “Grandview? Been a long time.”
    “I know. Told myself lots of times to get shut of the place. It’s the past. But Marais, she loved it so. I just couldn’t bring myself to let it go.”
    Cork said, “I’ll stop by this evening. I want to shower and eat first. Say, seven o’clock?”
    “Thanks.” Raye grabbed his hand and pumped it hard. “Thank you kindly.”
    After Arkansas Willie had driven away, Cork returned to the serving window. “How’s the game going?”
    “Over. Notre Dame won.” Annie gave a big victory grin.
    “What do you say? Think we can shut ’er down?”
    Annie started about the business of closing. “What did Mr. Raye want?”
    “A little help finding something. I’ll take care of it.”
    “He talks like a hillbilly. Is he?”
    “Don’t let him fool you, Annie. I’m sure he’s made a fortune sounding like a hayseed.”
    Cork cleaned up outside, pulling the big trash bag from the barrel by the picnic table and hauling it to the Dumpster near the road. As he headed back toward Sam’s Place, he noticed that the fisherman also