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

face scrunched, imagining the scene. “That’s a new ballgame. But if injecting the needle was his orgasm peak…”

“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “That’s my worry, too. He’ll switch out the needle for the knife going forward.”

Wild Card brought us two overflowing plates. “It appears Italian is on the menu tonight,” he said as he set the plates down. Joey carried over additional plates, containing garlic bread, along with Edwin’s promised carryout bag of a weeks’ worth of leftovers. Wild Card eyed the bag before glancing at me.

“Can you hold the bag until I leave?” I asked him.

“Of course, ma’am,” he said bowing and taking the bag from Joey. “It will be my pleasure.”

Wild Card hurried away and Jackie watched him over her shoulder. “He’s not really a waiter, is he?”

I laughed. “No. He’s my bodyguard.” I cut my food before stuffing a huge wad of chicken parmesan and noodles into my mouth.

“And the two guys who just followed him into the back room?”

“Security guards,” I mumbled, swallowing my food. “We have a gig later tonight which requires their special skills.”

“Hmm. Nice bodies. Think any of them would be interested in a quick choky?”

From across the room, Maggie barked out a laugh before throwing her hand over her mouth. I looked around. Everyone was quietly laughing with their heads bowed. They must’ve bugged our table.

Chapter Forty

CHARLIE

Tuesday, 8:30 p.m.

As the elevator whisked Jackie upstairs to her next adventure, Spence strutted across the room toward me. “We need to talk.” He was carrying his laptop which was my clue he’d found something during his background searches. “Preferably someplace without an audience listening.” He placed his ear mic on the table.

I slid out of the booth, picking up his earpiece and on our way past Maggie, I handed it to her. With an arm around my waist, Spence steered me toward the elevators.

“This way,” I said, turning to the right. “Most of the rooms in the building have surveillance, but Kelsey insisted one was left without cameras.”

Entering the employee hallway, I followed the hall to the left, swiping my keycard for the solid metal door labeled: private. Inside was one of Kelsey’s typical isolation rooms. The room had plain, tiled floors with a floor drain. A metal railing ran along three walls. And, eyebolts were mounted to the floor and each wall in various places.

Spence looked around the room, turning in a slow circle. “Do I even want to know?”

“My cousin is a planner. She likes to be ready for anything.”

Spence shook his head, and with a serious face, he opened his laptop, turning the monitor toward me. I waited for him to explain but he remained silent.

I began reading his background notes for the patients Terri Weston saw the day she was murdered. Using the touchpad, I scrolled down to continue reading. And that’s when I saw it. Why Spence had requested to speak in private. As I read the details, I felt my knees weaken. “Did you show this to anyone?”

“No. Not even Bones. I figured since we’re not even supposed to have access to this list, the less eyes the better.”

“He—” I pointed to the screen, “He wasn’t a patient. Right? He was with a patient?”

“Right. The patient was being treated for injuries acquired when he resisted arrest. The cop was listed as the arresting officer.”

Even though I knew we were in a private room, one with walls crammed full of soundproofing insulation, I still looked around to ensure we were alone. “We need to talk to the prisoner. Find out what happened.”

“He’s in the state prison. I can drop by for a chat on visiting day.”

I shook my head, turning to pace in the small room. “No. Don’t do anything. Visitors logs can be monitored.”

“Is this really a possibility then? That a cop killed Terri Weston?”

“I don’t know. But I’ll be damned if I accuse a cop without more information. We should get back. We need to check on the rest of tonight’s activities.”

I opened the door and spotted Bones and Wild Card leaning casually against the far wall, waiting.

Bones looked over my shoulder and frowned. He stepped over, pushing the door wider and looked around the room. “Kelsey’s a nut.”

“Maybe,” Wild Card said as he also looked inside the room. “But it sure is handy to have one of her holding cells here if we need it later.”

Bones smiled at Wild Card. It wasn’t a cheerful smile. It held a lot of sinister thinking.

“There’s more than one of these rooms?” Spence asked, thumbing toward the room over his shoulder.

“This is the fourth one I know of,” Bones answered. “But Kelsey has real estate hidden across the country, so who knows how many cells she’s had built.”

I laughed as I started down the hallway. “What makes you think she only has real estate in the U.S.?”

~*~*~

Regrouping in Baker’s office, Wild Card walked over and kissed my cheek.

“What was that for?” I asked.

“Sharing your dinner. It was insanely good.” He patted his stomach.

“I’ll be sure to let chef Edwin know.” I walked over and sat on the couch near the bar. “Where are we? What’s the plan for this evening?”

“Owen Flint won’t be here until around ten according to Baker’s records,” Ryan said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Ooh,” Maggie said, rubbing her hands together. “We have time to hit the club downstairs and dance.”

Bridget clapped, jumping up and down. “Can we?” she asked me. “Please, please, please.”

“In a minute,” I said. “First, Maggie, did you talk to Roseline’s family?”

“I spoke to her brother.” Maggie walked over and sat in a side chair. “According to him, their parents are too distraught to talk, but he gave us enough background to get us started. He described