Free Victoria Houston - Loon Lake 14 - Dead Lil' Hustler by Victoria Houston Page B

Nancy put a hand to her forehead. “Bud, honey, do you mind? I have an awful headache. Do you mind if we don’t visit right now?”
    “Of course not, sweetheart. Say, have you heard anything more about how Doc Osborne’s grandson is doing?”
    “No. Why would I?” The longer he stood there the angrier she got and she did not want him to see that.
    “Earlier today you heard a nurse say the boy is very ill.”
    “Oh that. No I haven’t heard anything. Just go, okay?”

Chapter Fourteen
    Arriving at the hospital half an hour before Erin was expecting him, Osborne hustled past the waiting room, hoping not to be seen. One quick glance assured him Bud was nowhere in sight. That was a relief.
    He found Erin and Mark sitting beside Cody’s bed while a nurse was busy recording data she saw on the myriad of instruments connected to his grandson.
    “Any change?” asked Osborne.
    “No, Dad. But Cody is so sedated right now that I couldn’t tell if there was. One of the residents came in a while ago and asked for permission to run additional blood tests for research he’s doing. I told him to go ahead. Can’t hurt, right?” She glanced at the nurse for confirmation and got a nod back.
    “Okay, Dad, you’re on. We’ll be back in an hour or so.”
    Osborne sat down in one of their chairs and opened
Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers
. He scooted the chair closer to where Cody’s head rested on a pillow and, encouraged by a slight smile from the nurse, he started to read.
    • • •
    On the drive out to the forest, Jake rode in the cruiser with Lew while Ray followed in his pickup. After driving for about fifteen minutes, Lew checked in with the dispatch center. She reached Marlaine, the night operator.
    “Any news from Bruce Peters?” asked Lew.
    “He called in to say there’s nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow, Chief. He’s had the Corbin remains transported to the crime lab for an autopsy. Said he’d be back at the site first thing in the morning. He said it took some doing to find someone who can get a vehicle back in there to salvage the snowmobile. He also said to tell you he’s hoping you’ve got Saturday off.” Marlaine chuckled. She knew the deal Lew made with Bruce.
    “Anything else?”
    “The usual speeding ticket and a rear-ender in the Loon Lake Market parking lot. Officer Donovan is handling that. Oh, and Dani left a note saying the FBI guy got here late this afternoon. She helped him set up his computer.”
    “What FBI guy?”
    “You got me,” said Marlaine. “That’s all she wrote on this note here.”
    “Okay, I’ll deal with that in the morning,” said Lew, perplexed.
FBI guy?
Be nice if someone had told her what that was all about.
    “Would it be out of line for me to ask why Dr. Osborne has to be at the hospital tonight?” said Jake when she was off the phone. “I thought you said he is retired.”
    “I don’t think he would mind if I told you,” said Lew. “He’s in a situation somewhat similar to yours. His seven-year-old grandson is in an isolation unit with spinal meningitis. The doctors aren’t sure if he’ll make it.”
    To her surprise, Lew’s voice wavered and a sob caught in her throat. She could feel tears starting. “Sorry to get emotional. Anyway, Doc’s relieving his daughter and her husband so they can grab a bite to eat and check on their daughters—they have two. And, ah, I’m worried for Doc.”
    “I can tell,” said Jake, “and rightly so. Don’t apologize.”
    Lew gave him a thankful grin. “Yeah, it’s tough.”
    • • •
    When they reached an entrance to the national forest, Ray’s truck pulled ahead. With the map open on the seat beside him, he led the way along a series of roads snaking through the forest. As they drove, the landscape changed from cedar swamps to groves of hardwoods and stretches of evergreens. At no time did they see any other cars, much less the Jeep Wrangler that Liam had been assigned.
    “Ray, you got any bars for