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

nearby security footage, and, bless his heart, managed to get a photo of a guy fleeing the area in a silver Hyundai. Description and partial plate information will be sent shortly to your phones.” I patted Ford on the top of his head before taking the picture from him and holding it up. “This photo is for only the eyes of the girls and boys in blue. Do not share with the media.” I continued to hold it up as I spoke. “One more thing… He’s a professional. He might’ve failed three attempts, but his first two attacks led to street fights and in both cases, the only reason I’m here today is because I got lucky.”

The room went quiet except for one rookie whose laughter caused everyone to turn to him. He read the serious expressions and snapped his jaw closed.

“Give us the run down,” Ford said.

“This guy is patient. Organized. He’s strong. He’s well trained in fighting, both offense and defense. And each time he’s come at me, I never knew he was out there. If I had to guess, I’d say he has a military background. I’d also wager he’s working for someone. This is the third vehicle he’s had in two days. Someone’s bankrolling his operation.”

“You going to a safe house?” one of the officers asked.

“Yes,” Quille answered.

“No,” I said, smirking back at Quille. I turned back to the room. “If you see this car, call it in. Do not try any heroic crap. We’ve already had too many close calls.”

“Protect and serve!” Leland bellowed.

“Protect and serve!” the men and women in blue responded.

I reached over and both Ford and Quille helped lower me to the floor.

“Your friend Maggie has taken over my unit,” Quille said as we walked out.

I pointed toward the elevator. My knee was better, but not ready to climb a flight of stairs. “That’s a good thing. Maggie likes to keep busy. She’ll have the homicide unit caught up on cases, organized and polished, before she gets bored and leaves.”

“She’s making me look bad.”

“She won’t take credit for any of the work, and by the time she leaves you’ll have the most effective unit in Miami. You might even make it home for dinner a few nights this week.”

That made him smile.

My phone rang. I pulled it from my purse and saw it was Chills. “Yeah.”

“My boys tried to make a delivery, but there was too much action for their comfort in your district.”

“What kind of delivery?”

“The kind with three beating hearts. They dropped the packages off at the chapel on 10th. Better get there quick before someone unties them.” Chills hung up.

“Ford!” I yelled toward the stairs where he was walking with some of the other guys back to the second floor. “Your shooter was just delivered to the church on 10th. You’ll need three cars.”

Ford ran down the stairs, stopped to kiss my cheek, then ran from the building with several officers following.

Sensing someone watching me, I looked over to see Marcie, the department shrink, watching me as she helped the grieving mother stay standing. The mother covered her face as she wept.

“Where’s Beast?” I asked Quille.

“Well,” Quille said, scratching the back of his head and trying to hide his smile. “Funny you should ask.”

I followed him over to a sidelight window that ran alongside the front doors. Outside, Beast stood on the top of the landing doing his bark, happy dance, bark again routine as the reporters took his picture. I looked over at Quille and rolled my eyes. Without stepping outside, I ducked my head and opened the door, whistling for Beast. He ran inside and followed me to the back of the building and out the rear exit.

We walked down two buildings, cut through an alley, then another half dozen yards to my car. I let Beast in first, him leaping over the driver’s seat and into the passenger seat, before I slid behind the wheel.

“What were we working on before everything went crazy?” I asked Beast as I pulled into traffic.

Beast barked once.

“Right. We need to find Roseline’s killer.”

I realized I never read the second forensic report from Roseline’s apartment. Not wanting to turn around and drive back to the precinct, I called Greg instead.

“Perfect timing,” he answered. “I was just about to call it a day. I’ve been working for twenty-hours straight.”

“Want a beer? I can meet you at my place, and you can walk me through Roseline’s apartment.”

“Is the beer cold?”

“It will be,” I answered.

He laughed. “Deal. See you in ten minutes.”

I turned right into the parking lot of a corner gas station, running inside to buy beer. On the way to the checkout counter, I grabbed a jug of water.

“Is that your dog?” a woman asked from the doorway, pointing over her shoulder.

“Depends. What did he do?” I asked as I stacked the beer and water on the counter.

“You left him in the car,” the woman said with her hands on her hips.

I pulled my wallet and handed cash to the young man behind the register as I responded to the woman. “I left the dog in the car with the car running, the air conditioner cranked, and the front windows completely down. Relax, lady.”

“I’m calling the cops!”

I glanced over as she stepped back outside. I snorted as I took the offered change from the cashier. He was looking back and forth between us. “She’s really calling.”

I shrugged while gathering the beer and water. “With the air conditioner running, the dog is more comfortable than we are.”

“Aren’t you worried someone will steal it? Leaving the car running like that?”

“Would you steal a car with a rottweiler sitting in the front seat?”

He shook his head.

I walked out as