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

“Wow. This is the most I’ve ever heard you talk.”

He shook his head. “I’m completely baffled.”

“Give it some time. It’ll make sense, eventually. If not today, maybe by tomorrow. You’ll be Team Trigger before you know it.”

“Unnecessary risks are dangerous in our profession.”

“Agreed. But what we would deem risky, doesn’t register the same for Trigger. And his methods are effective.”

“He’s breaking and entering… into a building full of people… in the middle of broad daylight!”

I smiled over at Ryan. “But he’ll have a good reason.”

Ryan looked at me like I had two heads, but ten minutes later Trigger rounded the corner of the building, smiling to himself, and started singing again.

“Hey, Boss,” Trigger whispered. “I’m going to hang around at the side of the building until two guys in suits come out. Let me know when the guy in the dark gray one exits. Then relay his distance until he reaches the sidewalk.”

I switched the mic on for the earpiece. “Copy. Waiting on dark gray suit to exit.”

“What’s he planning?” Ryan asked.

“I have no idea.”

“You don’t make him run his plans past you?”

“What would be the point? If it’s something stupid, he’d just lie.”

Trigger snorted, hearing our conversation, then continued singing as he leaned against the cinder block building and fiddled with a cigarette. He usually kept a smoke handy so he could pretend to be looking for a lighter if anyone questioned what he was doing. He didn’t even have a lighter. He didn’t smoke.

I looked at Ryan. “You might want to slip out and make a loop around the block. Be ready if needed.”

“Ready for what?”

I threw my hands upward. “How many times do I have to tell you? I. Don’t. Know!”

Ryan mumbled curses as he slipped out of the car and ran the other direction to loop around the block. I pulled my gun and gauged the distance. I could make the shot if I had to, but it would require everyone standing perfectly still and me getting out of the car. Any future stakeouts would be dead in the water. I just hoped whatever Trigger was planning didn’t get to that level of crazy. But it was Trigger. I wasn’t overly hopeful.

“You know you love me, Boss,” Trigger said as he smiled at the sidewalk. “I entertain the shit out of you.”

I laughed. I was about to reply something sarcastic when two men in suits walked out of the building. “Two suits are shaking hands. Only three feet from door and still talking.” I watched as the men continued to talk for a few more minutes. “Gray suit on the move. Twenty feet. Fifteen feet. Twelve. Ten. Eight. Six. Four. Two—”

Trigger collided with Mr. Gray Suit hard enough to knock them both to the ground with Trigger landing on top of him. They were a tangle of arms and legs before Trigger suddenly jumped up—and ran away.

“What the—” Ryan started to say over the earpiece as we both watched Trigger flee down the sidewalk at top speed.

The man in the suit started yelling and I heard him say wallet, before several construction workers took off after Trigger. And by several, I mean at least twenty. There was a full-on mob chasing my top field guy—who’d just mugged someone. And the mob was gaining speed.

I laughed.

“You’re going to rescue my ass, right, Boss?” Trigger huffed over the earpiece.

“I haven’t decided yet,” I said, still laughing.

Ryan casually walked back to the car, trying not to hurry. He slid into his seat and leaned his head against the dash. I watched his shoulders shake as he silently laughed. I started the car and pulled away from the curb.

Three blocks later, we saw the mob had dwindled to three guys, but they were only ten feet behind Trigger as he dodged pedestrians, cars, and even a bicycle that nearly took him down.

“What’s the plan?” Ryan asked. “We can’t pull guns on unarmed civilians and I’d feel bad if I had to fight them. They’re good Samaritans, trying to catch a mugger.”

“I’m thinking.” I pondered our options as I juggled watching Trigger and driving.

“Think faster, Boss,” Trigger wheezed into the earpiece. “I could use a lift about now.”

“We’re in Charlie’s car so if I pick you up and someone jots down her plate number, she could lose her job. Assisting a criminal to escape a crime is kind of a cop no-no.” I kept driving, but Trigger and his pursuers were running faster than the traffic was moving. That would change another half block ahead where the street intersected with a five-lane highway. “Half a block up,” I said to Trigger. “Main road. Get there and let’s hope you can give them the slip. Just don’t get hit by a car.”

I watched Trigger pick up the pace. When his pursuers saw him gaining speed again, one of them stopped running and leaned over with his hands on his knees to catch his breath.

“Two bogies left,” Ryan said so Trigger was aware. “But they look determined to kick your ass. They won’t give up easy.”

“Shit,” Trigger said.

Trigger reached the intersection to the main road and disappeared around the corner. Seconds later, the two remaining contractors followed him around the corner. Ryan leaned over and laid on the horn. Other drivers joined the orchestra as we crept forward.

“Thanks,” I said, sarcastically. “That helped so much.”

Finally reaching the intersection, I accelerated into my turn and picked up speed as we searched ahead for Trigger.

“Boss…” Trigger said.

“I’m here, but I lost visual.”

“I’m about to do something dumb. If it doesn’t work out, send flowers to my mother.”

Ryan pointed and I followed his finger a half a block ahead where Trigger was running. He was one good arm’s reach from being caught.