Deadly Currents Read Online Free PDF Page A

pudgy years.
    She pointed at the photo. “Who’s that?”
    Settling back into his chair, Quintana smiled. “My older brother. He’s an Elvis impersonator on the weekends. Does shows at retirement and nursing homes. Pretty successful at it, too.”
    “Cool. I’ll have to catch one of his shows sometime. Rocking out to some Elvis tunes would be fun.”
    “Is my photo collection what you’re curious about?”
    “It’s a great collection, but no. I’m wondering if you’ve got any autopsy results yet, if you know what caused King’s death.”
    Quintana pulled a couple of handwritten pages out of the top file folder on his desk. “Your timing’s good. We sent King’s body to the Pueblo coroner’s office yesterday. Since the forensic pathologist had no other cases waiting, he did the autopsy this morning.”
    “Has he finished the report?”
    “Not yet, but he called me with some preliminary results, and I made these notes. He doesn’t have a firm cause of death yet, but he ruled out some possibilities.”
    “Like what?”
    “Like drowning.” Quintana looked up at her. “Not enough water in the lungs. And like a head wound. King’s skull was intact, and the brain was in good shape.”
    “What about hypothermia or heart attack?”
    “Hypothermia’s a no. And he said King had arteriosclerosis, but he didn’t find a clot in a coronary artery.”
    Mandy sank back in her chair. “Oh, so no heart attack?”
    “Not necessarily. The coroner said you often don’t find direct evidence of heart failure.”
    “Really?” Mandy sat up straighter.
    Quintana smoothed his mustache. “Clots can flush out or dissolve, and heart tissue damage that causes death looks very similar to the damage that occurs postmortem. As he explained to me, it’s more a case of ruling out everything else. If there’s no other cause, you blame it on heart failure.”
    “When will he know for sure?”
    “After the toxicology and blood test results come in, in a day or two.”
    “Toxicology?”
    “It’s standard. Could show evidence of alcohol or drugs. And the blood test could reveal diabetes or some other disease, though King’s wife said his last physical two years ago was clear.” Quintana put down his notes. “Want to tell me why you’re so anxious to know?”
    Mandy blew out a frustrated breath. “I’m afraid King’s death will hurt Uncle Bill’s business. I hoped I could deliver news to him today that it was caused by a heart attack. Then he could tell that to any anxious customers who might blame him.”
    “Or you.”
    Mandy shot Quintana a look, but the man’s expression wasn’t accusatory. Instead, she read … compassion?
    Her hands went cold and her mouth dried up, but she had to face this. “Or me.”
    Quintana folded his arms, an awkward movement with all the equipment on his uniform belt. “This is your first year as a river ranger, right? And probably your first death.”
    Mandy nodded.
    “I bet you’re having the same reaction patrol officers have when they encounter their first death. And many have it with every one. It’s a wicked combination of emotions. The strongest one is guilt—wondering if you could have prevented the situation or turned it in a different direction somehow.”
    Blood rushed to Mandy’s cheeks, and she smoothed her hands on her jeans to regain her composure. “You nailed it.”
    Quintana leaned forward. “Maybe knowing everyone goes through this, that it’s part of being a public safety officer, will help.”
    Mandy met his gaze, and for the first time that day, felt a little calmer. “Maybe it does.”
    “I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve got the final report.” Quintana leaned back in his chair and frowned. “You’re not the only one who’s anxious. The coroner can’t release the body until he’s drawn a conclusion, and King’s widow has already called me to ask when they can schedule a funeral.”
    “I can’t imagine what she’s going through. It must be