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

group. “Tasha is a friend of mine and a top-notch doctor with the medical examiner’s office. But she also knew one of the victims, so she has a personal stake in this case.”

“Which victim?” Kelsey asked.

“I’m getting to that,” I said, pointing to Katie to start writing. “My theory starts two years ago, when Terri Weston, Tasha’s friend, was jogging at night in an upscale park. She fought her attacker. But while trying to escape, the perp fell on top of her, stabbing her in the back of the thigh, which severed an artery. Then he climbed on top of her and used his body weight to brace his forearm against the back of her neck.”

“Was cause of death asphyxiation or blood loss?” Quille asked.

“Blood loss,” Tasha answered. “But she might’ve been unconscious from the choking while she bled out.”

“How’s this—” Kelsey started to say but stopped when I held up my hand.

“Detective Chambers,” I said, gesturing to him on the couch, “came back from vacation to find his partner had completed a less than stellar investigation, but the DA’s office was already too far down the path to stop. Chambers’ hands were tied, but he’s up to speed on the case.”

Detective Chambers looked around the room. “I’ll do whatever I can to help. My partner had good intentions, but his work was admittedly sloppy.”

“Is he still working cases?” Kelsey asked in a steely voice. Moments like this were when Kelsey could be the most intimidating. It didn’t matter what side of the law you were on. If Kelsey deemed you unworthy, she’d take you down. And her confidence to do so emitted a powerful current of energy around her.

Chambers shifted with unease at Kelsey’s directness. “He’s a researcher now.”

She tipped her head in a clipped manner before refocusing on me. Chambers released an audible breath.

I gave Kelsey my what the hell expression, but she merely shrugged. Knowing that arguing with her was a lost cause, I turned back to Chambers. “Can you go to the prison tomorrow and re-interview Terrance Haines? I want his statement on the record about that post light being out. Start from the beginning and get a full account. There might be additional details we’re missing.”

“Sure. I’ll leave at dawn.”

Quille held up a hand. “What about the guy Beast bit? Was he the killer or this Mr. Tricky?”

“Beast bit someone?” Spence asked, looking at where Beast was lounging under the table. “He’s never bitten anyone.”

“It was a justified biting,” Chambers told Spence. “Someone was in the crop of trees and Beast took off after him. Witnesses say the guy ran out on the other side of the park and got as far as opening his car door before Beast latched onto his calf. The perp kicked Beast a few times with his other foot, finally getting him to release. Then drove away.”

Quille leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “Beast brought back a piece of the guy’s pants. Greg’s running it now.”

“But who do we think he was? The killer? Or Mr. Tricky?” Tasha asked.

I thought about it a moment before answering. “It had to have been the killer.”

“Why?” Kelsey asked, pulling my attention to her. “How do you know it wasn’t Mr. Tricky?”

I shrugged at her. “While Mr. Tricky is good at sneaking up on me, he wouldn’t have known the park the way this guy did. This guy knew where we’d be and knew to park his car on the other side of the woods. Mr. Tricky wouldn’t have known either.”

I thought about the other times Mr. Tricky had attacked me. The time in the alley was after I’d chased him. Then at the truck stop where he could’ve followed me and waited for an opportunity. The shooting though, that also required some scouting and forethought. I’d have to puzzle about that one later.

“Where did you go?” Maggie asked. “Why do you have that confused look on your face.”

I looked up to see everyone studying me. I turned to Kelsey, as if just looking at her would help the pieces in my brain fit together.

Kelsey shook her head. “You’re looking at me as if I have the answer, but I don’t know the question.”

“The shooting,” I said. “How did he know where to set up? How did he know which floor of the building was vacant? And why did he suddenly change tactics?”

“About that,” Kelsey said, glancing over to where Tyler stood. “Tyler, share your theory.”

Tyler, as usual, stood on the outskirts of the conversation, listening while he watched our surroundings, including the kids. “This isn’t really my thing. You guys investigate; I just run security.”

“I trust your opinion,” I said, encouraging him to tell us. “And obviously Kelsey feels it’s relevant.”

Tyler moved a few feet closer. “Well, seems to me, you’ve got two different people after you. One wants to kidnap you—that’s Mr. Tricky. He’s the guy from the truck stop and who kicked your ass in the alley. On both occasions, he could’ve killed you but chose not to. He wants you alive. And the other guy, well, he shot at you. He might also be the guy from the park today. It’s obvious he’d rather you quit breathing.”

“This new theory is not making me feel any better,” Quille grumbled.

“Me either,” Uncle Hank agreed.

I chewed on my lower lip, thinking.

“What are you holding back?” Kelsey asked me.

Maggie read my thoughts before I could answer. “You’re not sure the photo Ford found was the shooter. You think your kidnapper was watching you when the shooting occurred. The photo was him deciding to get the hell out of there before we shut down traffic.”

“Then, how’d the shooter get past us?” Quille asked, looking between Maggie and me.

“I don’t know,” I answered. “Maybe he blended in with