With a Vengeance Read Online Free PDF

had been a big, loveable lug, but he’d also made an enemy or two in his day. Simply on the basis of his size, he often acted as the protector of the weak.
    A recent incident, which Zoe had heard from others at the garage, floated to the surface of her mind. A couple of weeks ago, a young, drunk badass had called Barry out. Apparently, he’d popped the thug with one fist after taking as many of the punk’s insults as he could handle. According to the guys, the loudmouth ran away in tears, but had been heard around town making threats about a rematch.
    Curtis was physically the polar opposite of his partner. Lean and non-threatening, he avoided altercations at all costs, telling everyone that he was a lover, not a fighter. Everyone at Mon County EMS eagerly awaited Curtis’s upcoming wedding to Lucy Livingston, who some of the guys described as ten-car-pileup gorgeous. Lucy had dumped a jerk of a boyfriend for Curtis, who’d proposed after a whirlwind three-month courtship.
    Zoe tried to remember Lucy’s ex-boyfriend’s name to no avail. Could jealousy have driven the jilted lover to try to kill his rival?
    “Zoe.”
    She snapped out of her reverie and looked up to find Franklin staring at her over his mask. “I’m sorry. What?”
    The coroner motioned toward Abercrombie. “Doc asked if you wanted to run the gut.”
    As if all the other aromas weren’t disgusting enough, opening and washing the intestines ranked at the top of the Awful Smells List. She’d never lasted through it, even with someone else doing the deed. “Uh. No. I’ll pass.”
    Doc snickered, smile lines deepened around Franklin’s eyes, and Zoe realized both men were teasing her.
    At least she thought they were teasing. “You’re evil, you know.”
    “You make it too easy.” Franklin took the camera from her hands.
    “No more photographs?” she asked.
    “No. I don’t want you to drop my new Nikon when you pass out.”
    Oh, crap. They weren’t kidding.

      
    Pete stood in the police station’s conference room, studying the crime scene photos spread across the long table. An overturned ATV. The ambulance with a bullet hole in the fender. Close-ups of the tread marks from the second ATV. Various shots of the body.
    Every aspect of the case gnawed at him. The ambush. The victims. The lack of evidence. The lack of a suspect. That one really ate at him.
    His cell phone rang for what felt like the twentieth time. Concerned citizens kept phoning, demanding answers he didn’t have. Or offering their thoughts on who might be behind the killings. He’d taken a list of names and would follow up even though he knew most of the accusations were bogus. This time, though, the name and number on his caller ID weren’t local.
    Chuck Delano. His former partner from their days with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police currently resided in Hawaii. A couple of months back, Chuck had hounded him relentlessly to accept a job at some swanky resort on Maui. At one point, Pete had been on the verge of taking it too.
    Pete answered the phone. “No, I am not moving to Hawaii.”
    “Well, why the hell not? Oh, wait. I forgot. You’re in love .” The way Chuck said the word made it sound like a high school crush.
    “I’m busy. What do you want?”
    “No need to get snippy. But I do have another job offer for you. Not quite as good as the last one, at least starting out, but I think you’d make head of security within three months easy.”
    “I told you. I’m not moving.”
    “Bring the girl with you. One word for you, Petey. Bikinis.”
    For a moment, Pete’s mind conjured up an image of Zoe in a skimpy bathing suit. He quickly filed the fantasy away for later, when he had the time to enjoy it. “I have to go.”
    “I don’t know how you can still live around there.” Chuck’s tone became more wistful.
    The hint of melancholy in his old partner’s voice kept Pete from hanging up. “I like it here. I’ve told you that.”
    “I know. But don’t