“No problem,” Jake said. “Mr. Sprague, we need to talk to Wade Lawson.”
“Call me Scott. What’s this about?”
“Do you know his brother, Trevor?”
“Sure, I know Trevor. Is he in some kind of trouble?”
“He was killed in an accident on Dixon Pass,” Jake said.
Scott blinked. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Can you tell us where we can find Wade?” Jake asked.
“Sure. I’ll take you to him.” Scott turned to the woman. “Track down Veronica and ask her to come over to the boat launch and take over from Wade,” he said.
Then he opened the door and exited the cabin.
Jake and Aaron hurried to keep up with Scott, who, despite his stocky stature and graying hair, set a brisk pace. He cut through the trees, headed directly for the shoreline and a dock where a group of girls in green T-shirts paddled about in yellow-and-red canoes.
“Wade!” Scott called.
A slight blond man with gold wire-rimmed glasses—Aaron had mistaken him originally for one of the campers—turned to frown at them.
“Come here,” Scott called, and motioned with his hand.
Wade glanced toward the girls, then lifted the whistle that hung from a cord around his neck and blew it. “Everybody out of the water,” he called.
The girls had noticed the two uniformed deputies, and stared, motionless, some in mid-paddle. Wade blew the whistle a second time. “Out of the water!”
“You heard the man,” Scott shouted.
The girls all headed for the dock at once, resulting in a traffic jam it took several minutes to sort out. But at last all the canoes were beached and the girls gathered in a knot on the shore. A young woman with long dark hair loped toward them. “Mrs. Mason said you needed me,” she panted as she approached Scott.
“Take over the canoeing instruction from Wade,” Scott said.
Wade had joined them, and was giving the two deputies nervous looks. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“These two want to talk to you about Trevor,” Scott said.
What little color was in the pale young man’s face drained away. “Do you know where he is?” he asked. “Is he in some kind of trouble?”
“When was the last time you saw your brother?” Jake asked, his voice gentle.
“Last night. About seven thirty.” He glanced at Scott. Aaron thought he looked nervous.
“Thanks for your help, Scott,” Jake said. “We’ll let you get back to work now.”
“I don’t have anything pressing,” Scott said.
“We’d like to speak with Mr. Lawson alone,” Jake said.
Scott’s mouth tightened. Aaron wondered if he was going to argue, but after a tense moment, he nodded. “Let me know if you need anything else,” he said, and turned away.
No one said anything until the older man was out of sight, then Wade said, “What is this about? Is Trevor okay? I’ve been trying all day to get hold of him, but he’s not answering his phone.”
“Let’s go over here and sit down.” Jake led the way to a picnic table about fifty feet away and sat. Wade sat across from him, hands clasped between his knees.
“I’m afraid your brother was killed in an accident on Dixon Pass,” Jake said. “His car went over the side into the canyon.”
