Ladle to the Grave (A Soup Lover's Mystery Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Now and then. He’s a funny guy—kind of a lone wolf. Of all of them, he and I have probably been the least close. So I can’t really say I know my brother at all. He was gone before I hit junior high.”
    Lucky checked her watch. “Hey, I better get back to the Spoonful.”
    Sophie laughed. “How many bells is it?” she asked, referring to Jack’s method of telling time.
    “Just gone six bells.” Lucky smiled.
    Sophie looked down at the soot on her hands. “Give me a minute. I’ll rinse off my hands in the creek. No running water in here now.” She left by the back door and Lucky watched her from the window as she scurried down the slope to the creek that ran below the house.
    Lucky shut the front door behind her and walked down the wooden steps at the front of the house. She perched on a large rock at the top of the drive to wait for Sophie’s return. She was thrilled that Sophie and Sage were getting married and had a chance at their very own home. She leaned back and breathed in the warm spring air. Wildflowers were blooming over the hillside. The setting was inexpressibly peaceful. She felt her shoulders relax and closed her eyes, letting the sun warm her face.
    Sophie’s screams cut through the air.

Chapter 6

    L UCKY CLAMBERED OFF the rock and raced toward the sound, scrambling down the rise. She tripped and almost slid the rest of the way. Sophie stood at the bank of the creek, staring at a dark green bundle wedged between two rocks floating in the water.
    “Sophie?” Lucky approached.
    Sophie turned to her without speaking and pointed at the dark mass in the creek.
    The dark green bundle was a man’s jacket floating and inflated like a balloon. Lucky recognized the shape of a white hand under the water. Denim jeans covered a pair of legs that protruded from the jacket. A dead man was bobbing in the water.
    She touched Sophie’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”
    Sophie gulped and nodded. “I just didn’t realize what I was looking at.” They stood in silence staring at the corpse for several moments.
    “Is he really dead?” Sophie asked.
    Lucky nodded. “Looks that way.” Burbling water gushed over the rocks. The body had been snagged by an overhanging tree branch entangled in the coat.
    “We need to check, don’t we?” Sophie said. “What if he’s just unconscious?”
    “I really think we’re too late.” Lucky turned away and grabbed a long, sturdy branch that lay on the ground. “But I think we should have a look at him.”
    Sophie nodded. “Go ahead.”
    Carefully maneuvering the long branch, Lucky snagged the edge of a pocket and pushed gently. The body rolled over slowly. The man’s face was a mask of bloody flesh.
    “Oh, dear God,” Sophie groaned. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
    “Okay. You’ll be okay.” Lucky dropped the branch. “Let’s leave him and call Nate. We shouldn’t touch anything.”
    “How did he get here?”
    “He must have washed down from the top of the hill. Maybe he got banged up on the rocks or . . .”
    “What?”
    “Animals? Maybe.” Lucky leaned in closer for a better look.
    “Come on. I can’t look at it.” Sophie grabbed Lucky’s hand and started to drag her back up the hill.
    Lucky could barely pull her gaze away. She turned and let Sophie lead her back to the house. “We have to call Nate right away.”
    *   *   *
    N A TE E DGERTON ARRIVED on the scene fifteen minutes later, looking as if he still hadn’t slept from the night before. Bradley Moffitt, his deputy, also appearing very pale, rode with him.
    Lucky walked toward the cruiser as Nate climbed out. Sophie remained seated on the steps, her hands covering her face.
    “Where is he?” Nate asked.
    “Take that path right there.” Lucky pointed to an opening between the trees. “He’s in the creek down below.”
    Nate nodded and gestured to Bradley to follow.
    Lucky joined Sophie on the steps of the battered front porch as Nate and his deputy disappeared from