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

“Go look at the escape options first. Make sure you and the kids can get out if you need to. If you can’t, we can shift some people around to get the kids on the second floor.”

She moved toward the stairs.

“There’s an elevator, luv,” Alex said, chasing after her.

She looked back at me and rolled her eyes. “Of course, there is.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

CHARLIE

Monday, 8:45 p.m.

Kelsey and I had very different styles when working a case. She gathered and grouped her team for efficiency, relying on them to work together until they achieved their goals. I, on the other hand, didn’t like to explain my theories and kept clues on lockdown until I’d solved the puzzle.

I had to admit, though, her way made sense when there was a room full of people who could anticipate each other’s questions, answers, and emotional responses, before anyone even spoke.

During dinner, everyone pretended for the kids’ sake that our stay was a vacation. The kids and Carl inhaled their food before racing back to the pool. Aunt Suzanne and Anne settled in the chaise loungers to watch them. The rest of us moved over to the huge outdoor tiki lounge fitted with cushy outdoor couches and wicker tables. Tyler leaned against a support beam, close enough to listen to us, but turned toward the kids. The rest of us found a comfortable chair.

I’d just started explaining the events of the last few days when Wild Card waltzed into the group and dumped his duffle bag in a chair. “Everyone goes on vacation and forgets to invite me?” he asked, pretending to be upset.

“Did you get things sorted?” Jackson asked him, being intentionally vague.

“Not really, but it can wait,” Wild Card answered, just as vague.

Wild Card strolled over and plopped down next to me, throwing an arm over my shoulders. “I hear you’re stirring up trouble, sis.”

Wild Card’s easy-going personality could make anyone feel lighter. It was a shame he and Kelsey had divorced. “Just doing my part to keep you boys busy.”

“I need details,” Tech said, getting straight to the point.

I spent the next hour explaining the events as they’d unfolded. When I was done, everyone seemed stumped.

“Right,” Tech said, looking up from his computer. “So how many cases are we working on?”

“The life of a homicide detective,” I said, grinning. “You just keep rolling from one to the next. It’s the only way to survive the case load.”

My phone rang and I looked at the display. “Shit. I forgot about Maggie!”

“Maggie’s in town?” Kelsey asked.

“Yeah. The Feds sent her to Miami when we triggered a WITSEC alert.” I hit the green phone icon to take her call. “I’ll send someone to get you. Where are you?”

“I’m at your place with Bridget and this hunk of a PI you left behind. I hear the party moved to nicer digs. Room for me? Or should I get a hotel?”

“Plenty of room. Bridget knows where we are.”

“Splendid. I hear there’s a pool.”

“There’s everything. You won’t want to leave.”

“I have to fly out tomorrow for a new case, but I’m sure I can squeeze in some downtime before then.”

She hung up, and I called Quille.

“You were right,” he said as a greeting. “That friend of yours helped clear several cases, reorganized the whole unit, then announced she was bored and abruptly strolled out the door.”

“Yeah, she does that.” I stood and walked to the outskirts of the tiki lounge, watching the kids swim in the distance. “Wanted to let you know I relocated. My cousin came to town for a visit.”

“Kelsey doesn’t just come to town for a visit. She blows in like a hurricane. But I’ll sleep better knowing she’s got your back.” I heard a voice in the background and Quille told someone to give him five minutes, before he said to me, “Anything new on the double homicide?”

“Greg confirmed Pauly’s body was moved. Pauly was killed in Roseline’s apartment. Spence is working some background searches for me, and I have another team digging into the Oxi angle.”

“Something keeps bugging me,” Quille said. “If Pauly was a heroin addict, but killed by a group of script dealers, why was he murdered by a morphine injection?”

I was silent for a moment as the question stumped me. “Good question.” I paced a few feet away then turned and paced the other direction. “I’ll reach out and see if anyone on the streets has an answer.”

Beast padded toward me across the concrete, stopping to look up at me. I pointed toward the pool. He barked twice, ran, and leapt into the water, accomplishing one hell of a cannonball splash. Jager raced in after him.

“Was Chills’ package still at the church?”

Quille laughed. “How you convinced a gang leader to turn those punks over is beyond me. Ford said those boys were scared shitless by the time he picked them up. They confessed to every detail of the shooting.”

“Shooting a toddler is bad for Chills’ business. He knew 5-O would rip his streets apart until we found the boys.” I didn’t want to dwell on the shooting. There was nothing else that could be done so I changed the subject. “And the manhunt for Mr. Tricky? Any sightings?”

“Not yet. We found his car abandoned in a parking lot. No prints. No DNA.”

“Damn. I can’t catch a break with this guy.”

“We’ll get him. Just lay low until we do.”

“Call me if anything new pops up.”

“You do the same,” he said before disconnecting.

I returned to the sitting area. “You can cross the search for Mr. Tricky’s car off the list. It was ditched in a parking lot and wiped clean.”

“Why does it matter if it was clean?” Alex asked as he lifted a glass of iced tea from a