The Bones Of Odin (Matt Drake 1) Read Online Free PDF

forced leave to her - but that didn’t mean the cop in her just gave it up quicker than a Brit surrendered his virtue on his first night in Vegas.
    She sidled over to their table. Forced leave, she thought again. That put her glittering NYPD career in perspective.
    The older guy appraised her fast, raising her antennae. He weighed her up quicker than a U.S. Marine would assess a Bangkok brothel.
    “Don’t get up, boys,” she drawled disarmingly. “We need to talk.”
    “American?” the older guy said with a hint of surprise. “What do you want?”
    She ignored him. “Are you OK, kid?” She flashed her shield. “I’m a cop. You be honest with me now.”
    Older guy clicked immediately and gave a grin of relief, which was odd. The other one blinked in confusion.
    “Eh?”
    The cop in Kennedy pressed the issue. “Are you here by choice?” It was all she could think of to get next to them.
    The younger guy looked pained. “Well, the sightseeing’s ok, but the rough sex ain’t much fun.”
    Older guy looked surprisingly grateful. “Trust me. There’s no problem here. It’s good to see some of the law enforcement community still respect the job though. I’m Matt Drake.”
    He held out a hand.
    Kennedy ignored it, still not convinced. Her mind snagged on that phrase still respect the job and flicked back over the last month. Stopped where it always stopped. At Kaleb. At his brutalised victims. At his unconditional release.
    If only.
    “Well . . . thanks, I guess.”
    “So, you’re a cop from New York? ” The younger man augmented the nuance with raised eyebrows that he directed at the older.
    “Bloody subtle.” Matt Drake laughed easily. He seemed confident in himself and, though he sat easily, Kennedy could tell he had the competence to react in a second. And the way he constantly surveyed his surroundings made her think cop. Or army.
    She nodded, wondering if she should invite herself to sit down.
    Drake indicated the free space, at the same time leaving him a clear way out. “Polite, too. I heard New Yorkers were the most over-confident people in the world.”
    “Matt!” The kid frowned.
    “If by over-confident you mean egotistical and arrogant, I heard that too.” Kennedy slid into the booth, feeling a bit awkward. “Then I came to Paris and met the French.”
    “Vacation?”
    “So I’m told.”
    The guy didn’t push it, just held his hand out again. “I’m still Matt Drake. And this is my lodger, Ben.”
    “Hey, I’m Kennedy. I overheard what you were saying, the headlines anyway, I’m afraid. That’s what hit me up. And what’s that about Wolves in New York ?” She raised her eyebrows in imitation of Ben.
    “Odin.” Drake was studying her closely, watching for a reaction. “Know anything about him?”
    “He was Thor’s dad wasn’t he? You know, in the Marvel comic.”
    “He’s all over the news.” Ben nodded at the PC.
    “I’ve been keeping pretty clear of headlines lately.” Kennedy’s words came fast, wrung tight with hurt and frustration. It was a moment before she could carry on. “So, not much. Just enough.”
    “Sounds like you’ve created a few.”
    “More than is good for my career.” She returned, and then gazed out through the dingy cafe windows into the street.
     
    ****
     
    Drake followed her gaze, wondering if he should push her, and his eyes locked on to those of one of the lock-pickers from earlier, peering through the glass.
    “Shite. These guys are more persistent than an Indian call centre.”
    The guy’s face lit up with recognition when Drake moved, but now Drake decided he wasn’t fucking about any more. The gloves were well and truly off, and the SAS Captain was back. He moved fast, picked up one of the armchairs and flung it through the window with an almighty crash. The German flew backwards, collapsing to the pavement like dead meat.
    Drake waved Ben to the side. “Come with us, or don’t,” he called to Kennedy as he ran. “But stay