Alright, here is my conundrum. In a shorthanded NL game of lets say5 people where I am in late position, I find K9 offsuit in the hole. The flop comes Q 9 3 rainbow, with 4 players still in the hand. Second player bets half the pot. Third player folds. What do I do in this situation? The pot odds of course tell me to fold...but I mean, in a shorthanded game he could have nothing just as well. And if I do call I feel that I must continue to rely on my assumption thathe doesnt have the queen...Any advice?

Fold... unless you think that the player would lead out in early position with a weak hand in a cash game for absolutely no reason in a limped pot..

a read would be really nice here

is this a broad question?