Wicked Eddies Read Online Free PDF Page B

that line?
    He handed some sheets of paper to the first ranger sitting at the conference table. “River rangers, each of you take one of these. They’re the shift schedules for next week. Some of you will be working extra shifts to make sure we have adequate coverage along all of the competition beats—that’s river sections for those of you unfamiliar with the lingo of fly-fishing competitions. Given the economic times, I thought some of you might appreciate the overtime.”
    Mandy checked her schedule and saw she had an extra shift next week. She could always use the additional money, so she didn’t mind. Poor Lucky would be left in the yard alone an extra day, but she would make it up to him. And Rob was so busy coordinating rafting trips for RM Outdoor Adventures, he probably wouldn’t even notice she was working overtime.
    After answering a few questions, Steve gave a nod to Sandra Sechrest, who stepped forward. She cleared her throat, looking nervous for the first time. “We’ve already had one death of a competitor. Howie Abbott was killed sometime Sunday. He was registered to compete in the tournament.”
    Mandy sat up straighter. This was news to her.
    â€œFurthermore, Mr. Abbott was most likely cheating.” Sandra frowned. “His body was found at the Vallie Bridge campground, with his fishing gear nearby, and that campground is within one of the beats. No one competing in the tournament is supposed to access the competition river sections for six weeks prior to the start of the tournament.”
    â€œIsn’t that a float-fishing beat?” one of the firemen asked.
    â€œYes, but that doesn’t matter,” Ms. Sechrest answered. “Scouting out from the shore where the fish tend to gather is still against the rules. Now, I know our prizes can’t compete with the large sums offered in European tournaments, but a ten-thousand-dollar first prize is nothing to sneeze at. The temptation to cheat is there, and the whole point of the rules is to squelch that temptation.
    â€œMy hope is that Mr. Abbott’s death is unrelated to the tournament, but the suspicion that he was cheating has already cast a pall on the event. We don’t want these competitors, who are flying in from all over the world, to leave Chaffee County with a bad taste in their mouths.”
    Well, well, well, Mandy thought. Did someone catch Howie cheating? Was that motive enough for murder? And what about the other camper who was with him? Was that person a competitor, too, and also cheating?
    _____
    She made a mental note to get a copy of the list of the competitors to give to Detective Quintana.

Three
    The only time a fisherman tells the truth is when
he calls another fisherman a liar.
    â€”AUTHOR UNKNOWN
    After feeding and playing with Lucky and heating up a can of chili for herself, Mandy arrived at the Vic well after eight on Tuesday night. The historic tavern’s heavy scroll-worked door was propped open to let in the fresh night air. A light breeze coming off the mountains to the west, a harbinger of an impending cool front, teased a few loose strands of Mandy’s hair, tickling her cheeks.
    The entertainment that night was warming up, and their reggae beat lifted her spirits when she stepped over the threshold. Once inside, the golden stamped-tin ceiling of the large barroom magnified the sound of both the music and chattering groups of people. Mandy worked her way to the long, polished wood bar.
    She spotted Cynthia at the taps at the far end, pouring beer into pilsner glasses. Her bare arm flexed when she plugged the taps, twitching the green and red broad-tailed hummingbird tattooed on her bicep. With the back of her hand, Cynthia swiped at a lock of brunette hair that had come out of her French braid, then piled the glasses on a tray for a waitress standing at the ready.
    Mandy shouted, “Cynthia!” and waved.
    Cynthia flashed a thumbs-up and held up an