Against the Tide Read Online Free PDF

along? Any animosity?”
    Ben shrugged his rounded shoulders. “Chip used to goad Scotty once in a while. Joked about him being henpecked. Told him to grow a pair and keep Cassie in line. Stuff like that. But you know Scott. Rolled off him like water off a duck’s back. Scotty liked everyone and everyone liked him.”
    â€œNot everyone,” Olivia said darkly, drawing Rafe’s sharp gaze back to her.
    When she said nothing more, he returned his attention to Ben. “Soon as the police find out Scott was here last night, they’ll want to talk to you and the other players.”
    Ben nodded. “I’ll call and let them know. If there’s anything I can do to help catch that murdering bastard, believe me I will.” He let out a weary sigh. “Thing like this . . . makes me wish Alaska had the death penalty.”
    A muscle tightened in Rafe’s jaw. “I know what you mean.”
    â€œWhat time did Scotty leave?” Liv asked.
    â€œGuess it was a little after midnight.”
    â€œCoroner puts time of death between eleven and two,” Rafe said. “If Scotty left around midnight, he must have been killed sometime not long after. What time did the rest of the players leave?”
    â€œGame broke up maybe ten, fifteen minutes after Scotty took off. Hell, he had all our money.”
    â€œAre you sure he didn’t say anything about going back to the boat?” Liv asked. “Mention some errand he needed to run or something?”
    â€œNot that I recall.”
    Rafe flicked a glance in her direction. “Anything else?” he asked her.
    Liv shook her head.
    â€œThanks, Ben,” Rafe said. “If you think of anything that might help, you know where to find me.”
    â€œYou got it.”
    Olivia turned and started for the door, and Rafe fell in behind her.
    â€œRafe?” Ben called after him. Rafe stopped and turned. “You won’t let this drop, will you? You’ll keep after them till they find the guy who did it.”
    Rafe’s jaw turned iron hard. “I won’t stop until the sonofabitch is arrested—or he’s dead.”

Chapter Four
    Once they were back in the Expedition, Rafe pulled out his cell and phoned the police department. The SUV was equipped with hands-free, so Olivia could hear the conversation.
    Rafe asked for Chief Rosen, but Rosen wasn’t in. “How about Rusty Donovan?” Donovan was one of the officers he’d seen at the dock. His dad, Jim Donovan, was a dedicated fisherman. Rafe knew both of them fairly well.
    After a few moments, Rusty answered. “Donovan.”
    â€œRusty, this is Rafe Brodie.”
    â€œHey, Rafe. Sorry about your friend. I met him a couple of times when I was helping Dad work on his boat. Seemed like a real nice fella.”
    Rusty was only a few years older than Scott. “He was a good kid. You guys got anything new to report?”
    â€œWe’re waiting for the autopsy. The body was taken to Anchorage. We won’t have the official results until at least tomorrow.”
    â€œWhat about the crime scene? Can I go back aboard my boat?”
    â€œYou should have gotten a call. You can go ahead. They dusted for prints, but Scott worked aboard, so his fingerprints are bound to be all over. They probably found yours, too. Could turn up someone you may have had on a charter. They’re running what they’ve got through AFIS right now.”
    â€œWhat about security cameras? Have they had a chance to look at those yet?”
    â€œNot yet.”
    â€œI’d take it as a personal favor, Rusty, if you’d keep me posted on the case.”
    â€œI can do that. Sure.”
    â€œGive my best to your dad.”
    â€œWill do.”
    Rafe hung up the phone, reached down and started the engine.
    â€œAFIS? That’s the way they match up fingerprints, right?”
    He nodded as he put the SUV in gear, pulled out of the lot, and started