Real Murder (Lovers in Crime Mystery Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

closer to see for himself. “The diver says he’s strapped in the driver’s seat. As bad as the decomp is, we’ll need dental records to determine if it’s him.”
    When he saw Cameron get out of the passenger side of the SUV and come around to grasp Joshua’s arm, the sheriff greeted her with a nod of his head. Then he noticed the bruise across her forehead and cheek. “You look like you’ve had a good day, Detective.”
    “I got one more killer off the street,” she replied.
    “That always makes it a good day,” he agreed.
    Joshua was so focused on the police cruiser slowly  being pulled up out of the water that he barely noticed the red Mustang that swerved around the road block to tear up the grass before screeching to a halt not far from them.
    Stopping him with a hand to his chest, the sheriff intercepted the young driver when he jumped out of the car and tried to run down to the lake’s shore. “Hunter, you shouldn’t be here.”
    “Is it him?” the young man demanded to know while  trying to dodge the sheriff who, while notably shorter, was much stronger and experienced. “Someone sent me a text that it was a police cruiser. Is it Dad’s? Is he in there?”
    A mirror image of his father, the young man stepped around the sheriff where he encountered Joshua, who grasped his arm to hold him back. “Hunter, you don’t want to be  here.”
    Tad had come up from the lakeshore to block the young man’s access to the scene. “Hunter, if that’s your dad, you don’t want to see him, believe me.”
    “Then it’s not a rumor,” Hunter said. “It’s a cruiser and there’s a body in it. It must be him.”
    “We don’t know that for sure,” Joshua said.
    “I’m not an idiot! How many cruisers disappeared in the area in the last twenty years?” Hunter held up his index finger. “One. And my dad disappeared with it. There’s no one else it can be.”
    Hunter attempted to wade through the three men  blocking his way to the lake to get a closer look, only to be held back by Joshua and the sheriff while Tad attempted to reason with him. “Listen to me. If it’s your dad, I can tell  you with certainty that he wouldn’t want you to see him like this.”
    The missing deputy’s son paused.
    Tad continued, “Remember him the way he was. If  you see him in the condition his body is in now …” The doctor shook his head. “Keep your memories of him the way he was.”
    The young man swallowed while blinking back tears in his eyes. “That’s the problem. I was five years old when he went missing. Most of my memories of him are now gone.”
    Her eyes also filled with tears, Jan touched his arm.  “I remember him, Hunter.” She clasped her hand on his shoulder. “The place you need to be now is with your mother. I’m sure word has gotten to her already. She needs you. I’ll go with you. As soon as they know something, Tad and Josh will let you know.”
    Hunter hesitated before allowing Jan to guide him back to his car. He slid into the driver’s seat and drove off. After loading Tad Junior into their car, Jan followed.
    Cameron stepped up to where Sheriff Curt Sawyer was watching to make sure the dead deputy’s son had indeed left. A former police officer with the marines, Curt Sawyer had hung onto his military bearing.
    “Did you know this missing deputy?” Cameron asked him.
    “I’m afraid not,” Curt said. “I know a lot of people in this town who did. Mike Gardner was a good man. Not an enemy in the world. Hunter takes after him. He’s going into the police academy this fall. Did you know that? Just got out of the army. Did a tour in Iraq. Will be a fine deputy when he graduates.”
    “Josh said he grew up with this … ” She knew Curt had just said his name. She wondered if Joshua had told her. Cameron searched her memory. Why can’t I remember? Curt just said it.
    “Gardner,” the sheriff told her. “Mike Gardner was his name.”
    “Josh said he was investigating