Victoria Houston - Loon Lake 14 - Dead Lil' Hustler Read Online Free PDF

banker from Wausau. The family has been searching for him since he told them he was planning to stay with friends at a deer shack up near Eagle River. He never arrived.” She looked down at the body. “I wonder how he got way the heck out here?”
    “I tell you, he fell through a break in the ice and drowned,” said Pecore, fuming. “Just because he has been missing does not prove foul play.”
    “We’ll see,” said Lew. “Meanwhile, you stay with the body until the Wausau boys get here.”
    “Me?” Pecore looked like he would have a heart attack. “I don’t have time. Later today I’m supposed to check in at the clinic for tests before my hip replacement. I can’t stay here.”
    “I’ll tell the boys at the crime lab they need to hurry,” said Lew with an understanding smile. “Oh, and by the way, Pecore, nice of you to let me know beforehand that you’ll be on medical leave for what—six weeks or more?”
    “I was going to let you know when I knew exactly what time,” Pecore mumbled.
    “Is it okay for us to leave?” asked the woman kayaker, obviously eager to avoid listening to an unpleasant exchange.
    “Sure,” said Lew, “but please back away from this area carefully. “This may be a crime scene.” She watched as the two maneuvered their kayaks back into the river.
    As they passed near the submerged snowmobile, the woman gave a yelp. “I see what looks like a helmet down there! It’s dark and kind of round.”
    One of the rangers took off his shoes, rolled up his pant legs, and waded into the shallows. Lew handed him a long branch that she found on the bank. Holding the branch out in front, he was able to snag a strap on the dark object.
    “Be careful not to touch it,” said Lew as the ranger sloshed his way to the riverbank, the helmet dangling from the branch. “We’ll carry it back to my cruiser. I have evidence bags in the trunk.”
    She examined the helmet hanging in front of her. The strap was in good condition, hooked to what remained of the right side of the helmet, which was covered with nicks.
    “Reminds me of a Kevlar helmet I use for target practice,” said one of the rangers, “
after
I shoot it.”
    “Pecore, I heartily recommend you record ‘cause of death unknown’ when you do the paperwork later. No bear did this.”
    “Are you calling Wausau now or later?” said Pecore, shoulders drooping as he looked for a spot to sit down.
    “I’ll take care of it,” said Lew. She started toward the woods with the rangers behind her. She paused and turned back to Pecore. “Don’t worry, I’ll have Officer Donovan relieve you within the hour.”

Chapter Six
    “Erin, Mark, I’ll be down in the waiting room if you need a break,” said Osborne. The three of them were standing in the hall outside the isolation ward where Cody had just been moved to keep him from exposing any of the other children in the hospital. While they waited, a team of nurses and doctors buzzed around setting up a dizzying array of medical devices. At the center of all the activity lay Cody—sound asleep.
    “He’s sedated,” said one of the nurses in response to a questioning glance from Mark. “Right now his vitals are okay. Someone on the nursing staff will be here at his bedside around the clock until we know more. Immediate family members are welcome to stay, too. But we ask that everyone wear the disposable masks and gowns that are in that box outside the room. Just a precaution.”
    “Erin and Mark, you stay here with the nurse,” said Osborne. “I’ll wait outside in case you need a break but there isn’t enough room for all of us.”
    “Thanks, Dad,” said Erin, giving him a hug. She checked her watch. “Dr. Schrieber said the infectious disease specialist should be here shortly. I’ll come get you after we talk to him. One of us needs to go check on Beth and Mason.”
    “Fine,” said Osborne. “I’m not leaving until we hear the test results and if you need me to stay the