Read Online Dead Hot Shot (Loon Lake Fishing Mysteries) by Victoria Houston - Free Book Online

bet you the autopsy will show that happened before she died. See the length and general appearance of this abrasion? I think she was slugged with something long and hard like a bat, but with an edge to it.”
    “Not a lightning strike?”
    “Lightning has nothing to do with what I see here. This injury is similar to what I’ve treated in hockey players who’ve taken a puck in the mouth. For the players, the good news was I could usually push those teeth back in so they wouldn’t lose them.
    “But that’s not all. On the right side of her upper jaw, there’s a large gap where a fixed bridge should be. We both know this is not a woman who would have been entertaining guests without her teeth. So my question is — where is her bridge?”
    “Right,” said Lew, satisfaction spreading across her face. “I’ll show you where it is and now you’ll know why I called you and Ray — why I went out on a limb to call the Wausau Crime Lab on a national holiday.” She stepped up onto the dock and motioned for Osborne and Ray to follow.
    “Holy cow,” said Ray as they walked out along the dock. They passed the shore station holding the bassboat, its hull sparkling in the sunlight. The boat was suspended so high over the water that it might have been resting on stilts. “Man, is this lake down! They must have to row out quite a ways before starting that big outboard. You unwind that shore station and you’re practically on sand. Wow.”
    Osborne wasn’t surprised. A two-year drought across the northwoods had left many of the lakes down. Only those that were spring-fed and not linked to a river system were at normal levels. Loon Lake was also down but not quite as bad off as this.
    “See that?” said Lew, pointing to something in the water just to the north of the dock. Osborne’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark water but then he saw the object, the silver bands gleaming as they caught sunlight: a fixed bridge with, he guessed, at least three teeth attached.
    “Ray, can you get a photo before we retrieve that?” said Lew.
    “Sure, Chief. But I’ve got a question for you first.” He pointed to the shoreline above the spot where the bridge rested. “Are those your footprints all through that area? Did you or Todd walk from the deck over to the boathouse along the shoreline there?”
    “No. I didn’t let Andy and Blue walk around there, either — though who knows what people did before I got here. For the record, gentlemen, the family doesn’t know I spotted that bridge. Since Andy swears he found her body on the other side of the dock.”
    “Chief,” said Ray, “if it’s okay with you, I’ll shoot everything in color but let’s do black and white around those footprints — you’ll get stronger definition in case you need to identify shoe or boot marks.”
    “Good. And if those tracks lead further back — ” “I’ll stay with them?”
    “As best you can, Ray.” Lew cupped her hands to her mouth, “Officer Martin!” She waved at the young policeman who was still chatting with the EMTs. He hurried over.
    “Todd, without question we have a crime scene here so will you please follow procedures? I don’t expect Wausau to make it up here today, maybe not until morning. Sorry to ruin your holiday but we need to keep the area secured overnight, too. I’ll check with the sheriff and see if I can get you a relief. But, please, let’s be very careful to maintain the integrity of the site as well as the transport of the victim.”
    Todd nodded. “Not to worry, Chief. I know the drill. And the guys on duty today,” he nodded towards the ambulance, “they know what they’re doing. We’ve worked together before. They understand ‘chain of custody’ on crime scenes.”
    “Good. Doc and I will be with the family up at the house if you have questions.”
    Lew and Osborne walked back over to the body. Osborne paused to let his eyes travel the length and width of Nolan Reece. Torn flesh on the