Hunt and Prey (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 8) by Kaylie Hunter (novels to read for beginners txt) 📕

she was an illegal?” Quille asked as his head snapped up to look at me. “How’d you jump from Roseline being an illegal immigrant to her being under federal protection?”

Spence walked over and joined us.

“I peeked at her employment file. It was too professional. Too detailed. And in some places, the handwriting changed, like someone else had filled in the blanks.”

Spence sighed. “Shit. So that’s who received an electronic notice.”

I glanced over at Spence. “What are you talking about?”

“You asked me to run a background search on Roseline. When I’m online, I keep an operation screen open that shows me anything sent or received from my computer. I noticed a packet of data was copied, and before I could stop it, it had been sent to another I.P. address. I tried to trace it, but the I.P. address jumped several states until I lost it in a maze of data networks.” Spence reached a hand out to Quille. “Sergeant.”

“Spence,” Quille said with a nod and a return handshake. “How’d you get sucked into this mess?”

“Just lucky, I guess,” Spence said, grinning over at me. “The paramedic said you need stiches.”

“I’m a fast healer.”

Spence looked at Quille, but Quille only shrugged. “Don’t waste your time. Short of gunshot wounds, I don’t even argue with her anymore.”

“How many times have you been shot?” Spence asked with a raised eyebrow.

I shrugged.

“Three times,” Quille answered. “That I’m aware of at least. Wouldn’t surprise me if there were times I didn’t know about, though. This one’s a handful. Consider yourself warned.”

“About the Feds,” I said, steering the conversation back to the case.

“Don’t suppose you can call Kierson? Ask him to look into it?” Quille asked.

“Sorry.” I scrunched my nose. “I sort-of burned that connection before I left Michigan.”

“Burned it or scorched it into something unrecognizable?” Quille asked.

“I’d guess somewhere between the two. It’s best if I stay off his radar for a while.”

Quille shook his head as he laughed. “You’re one of a kind, Kid.” He pulled out his phone as he walked away. “One of a kind.”

Greg, the lead forensic investigator, walked over. “We got what we could, but no promises. Tire tracks look standard. The trash and debris in the area could’ve been from anyone. Our best bet is your shirt, but like you told me, it was a brief encounter. I’ll do what I can, but…”

“I know you will. Thanks, Greg. Text me if you find anything.”

“Can do.” He slid his wire rimmed glassed up. “Go home, Kid. Get some sleep. Even without the split chin and two black eyes, I can tell you’re beat.” He patted my shoulder before walking away.

“You two seem close,” Spence commented.

“We’ve worked a lot of cases together. He’s good. Thorough.”

“That all?”

“I don’t sleep with men connected to law enforcement. Sexism is alive and thriving in the blue brotherhood. It’s not worth it.”

“Plenty of women in law enforcement have relationships with their coworkers without it affecting their careers.”

“And plenty of others are never treated as equals afterward. It’s a line that once crossed, you can’t uncross.”

  “Good thing I’m not a cop, huh?” Spence threw an arm over my shoulder, whistled for Beast, and led us back to the car.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” I said, nudging his arm off my shoulder. “My rule extends to anyone working or associated with a case. You’re on the wrong side of the line.”

“I guess we better hurry up and solve the case then. Wouldn’t want you to feel guilty when you break your rule,” Spence said, taking my keys and pushing me toward the passenger side of the car.

I didn’t argue. I was beat.

Chapter Seventeen

CHARLIE

Monday, 8:01 a.m.

I woke to the ringtone on my phone. Before I could focus on my surroundings, I felt the phone being placed in my hand and my hand lifted toward my ear. “Yeah?” I answered, looking beside me to find Spence leaned back in the driver’s seat of my car.

“You awake?” Kelsey asked.

“Sort of,” I said on a yawn. “Give me ten and I’ll call you back.”

I hung up and opened the car door. As soon as I stood, Beast leapt from the car, knocking me into the door panel. He ran over and lifted his leg on a bush before running around in circles in the parking lot.

“Well, he’s wide awake.”

“He’s always full of energy in the mornings,” Spence said, shutting the driver’s door before walking over and dragging me toward my apartment building’s entrance.

“Why did we sleep in the car?” I asked as I pulled my arm from his grip.

“I was afraid if I woke you, you’d start working again. I stayed awake and kept watch.” He held the door open for Beast and me, and then followed us up the stairs. “Which is why I’m going to take a nap while you cook breakfast.”

“I don’t have to cook.” I smiled as I unlocked the door and threw it open. Aunt Suzanne was in the kitchen. Heavenly scents of bacon and butter fried goodness wafted toward us.

“Food. Then bed,” Spence said.

“You mean your floor mat? You’re not sleeping in my bed.”

“Wanna bet?” he said as he shut the door.

I sat at the table and was rewarded with a plate full of artery clogging deliciousness. Aunt Suzanne raised my jaw to inspect my chin, but only rolled her eyes before returning to the kitchen. She served Spence a plate, then delivered coffee and orange juice.

I took a picture of my plate with my phone, sending the image to Kelsey before forking some fried potatoes into my mouth. Thirty seconds later, I hit the answer button and held the phone up to my ear.

Kelsey started talking without greeting. “Tell Aunt Suzanne that I miss her