A Gathering of Widowmakers (The Widowmaker #4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

off anyway. I saw a ship coming down about an hour ago."
    "So?"
    "It might be the books I ordered from that dealer on Antares III. If it is, I don't want to be covered with dirt and sweat when I open the package."
    "You could wait until you've showered." He simply stared at her. "No," she amended. "I guess you couldn't."
    "One of them was published when we were still Earthbound," said Nighthawk.
    "You could just have your computer tie into the library . . ."
    "I read books , not electronic impulses or holographs."
    "It would be less expensive."
    "If we need more money, I'll go out and get it."
    She had no argument for that, so she changed the subject, and they spent the next few minutes discussing the birds they'd seen at the various feeders that morning and making plans for their next birdwatching excursion to the planet's rain forest a thousand miles to the south, when Nighthawk saw a vehicle approaching the house.
    "Looks like my books are here," he said. Suddenly he frowned. "Shit!"
    "What is it?" asked Sarah, peering out the window.
    "Someone I hadn't expected to see again."
    "Bad news?"
    "These days any news that can find me is probably bad news." He got to his feet and walked to the front door, opened it, and stepped out onto the broad veranda.
    The aircar stopped in front of him, and Ito Kinoshita stepped out.
    "What the hell are you doing here?" said Nighthawk.
    "I'm delighted to see you too," replied Kinoshita wryly.
    "I'd love to think this is a social call, but you don't make social calls and I don't accept them."
    Kinoshita pulled his luggage out of the aircar and set it on the ground. "Have you still got that extra room?"
    Nighthawk looked surprised. "He fired you?"
    Kinoshita shook his head. "I left."
    "Why?"
    "Because it's my function in life to serve the Widowmaker."
    "You're a little confused. The Widowmaker's out there somewhere." Nighthawk waved a hand toward the sky.
    "That's what we have to talk about."
    The woman stepped out onto the porch. "Hello, Ito." She walked over to him and gave him a hug. "How nice to see you again."
    "I've missed you, Sarah," said Kinoshita.
    Her gaze fell on his luggage. "How long will you be staying with us?"
    "That's a matter of some debate," said Nighthawk.
    Sarah studied his expression for a moment. "I'll leave you two to sort it out," she said. Before she went back inside the house, she turned to Kinoshita. "He's retired, and he's staying retired."
    "You heard the lady," said Nighthawk as the door closed behind her.
    "Do I have to stand out here in the sun, or are you going to invite me to sit on the veranda?"
    "Do whichever you please."
    "I see you're as gracious as ever." Kinoshita climbed the three stairs, walked over to a wicker chair, and sat down. "We've got a problem."
    " You've got a problem," said Nighthawk. "My only problem is feeding you until you leave."
    "Are you going to let me tell you about it?"
    Nighthawk looked amused. "Has anyone ever stopped you from talking?"
    "Let me get right to the point," said Kinoshita. "He's out of control."
    "That doesn't sound like the kid I trained," said Nighthawk. "What did he do?"
    "He may have killed an innocent man."
    "Collateral damage?"
    Kinoshita shook his head. "No, it wasn't collateral damage. He's you at age twenty-four. He hits what he aims at."
    "Was there paper on the man he killed?"
    "Two million credits."
    Nighthawk frowned. "Well, then?"
    "I told you: the man may have been innocent."
    "They don't offer that kind of money until they're sure," said Nighthawk.
    "Look, it's a long story," replied Kinoshita. "Maybe I'd better start at the beginning."
    "Don't bother. There was paper on a man. Jeff killed him. End of story."
    "Goddammit, Jefferson, you sound just like him!" said Kinoshita. "Let me explain! I didn't come all this way without a reason."
    Nighthawk stared at him for a long moment, then walked over to a wooden rocker and sat down. "All right—talk."
    "You taught him well, Jefferson," began Kinoshita.