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

“Half past eleven,” Wild Card answered as he dragged a desk chair over. “Owen never showed.”

I sat forward on the couch, tossing the blanket covering me to the floor. I raked both hands through my hair, trying to pull my brain out of the fog. Spence nudged my shoulder again. Looking up, I took the cup of coffee he held out for me and wrapped both hands around the warm mug. I held it under my nose to smell the fresh brew while it cooled enough to drink. “How’d your meeting go?” I asked him.

“Interesting,” he answered with a slight smirk. “Mickey’s got balls. He called the mysterious suppliers who work with the Jameson crew. They import through Cuba, not Mexico. And they said they weren’t connected to the hit on Roseline.” Spence sat on the arm of the couch, one foot propped on the edge of the coffee table. “For what it’s worth, Mickey believed them. The suppliers said they don’t sweat their dealers getting arrested. And if they did feel intervention was necessary, they’d take out the dealers, not a witness.”

“That makes sense,” Maggie said from the chair next to me. “It’s easier to kill the dealers than a federally protected witness. And law enforcement doesn’t get as jumpy when the scumbags are knocked off.”

“But then where does that leave us?” Wild Card asked. “Who hired the hit, then?”

I looked over at Spence. He continued smirking, but didn’t say anything.

“Do we need to talk in private?”

“Not if you can read between the lines.” Spence reached down and picked up the blanket, folding it before placing it on the side table. “I asked Mickey about that other thing. His interest was immediately perked. He remembered the arrest. And the reason Mickey remembered it was because of the surprisingly low quantity of drugs reported with the arrest. The guy arrested handled restocking the street dealers, so he transported large quantities. But the evidence in his arrest was minimal. A few small baggies of marijuana, two vials of coke, and a few pill bottles.”

My brain caught up to what he was saying. “Flying under the radar for trafficking narcotics.”

“Exactly. The difference between a five-year sentence and a thirty-year sentence.”

I didn’t like the direction this case was turning. “I don’t know about you, but if I had to choose between keeping my mouth shut or serving an extra twenty-five years in prison, my lips would be glued together so tight you couldn’t pry them loose with a crowbar.”

“That would be my play.”

Maggie stood, crossing her arms over her chest. “At any point in the near future are either of you going to share with the group?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. You’d ask me how I got the lead, and I can’t divulge my source.” I reached over and grabbed my phone from the coffee table. I had three text messages from Quille and a voicemail from Kelsey.

I read Quille’s text messages. Message one: No other calls were received on the phone number we have for Roseline. Message two: My wife is pissed. Message Three: Are you going to answer me?

The fact that no other calls had come in on Roseline’s phone could be for two reasons. One, she had another phone we didn’t know about. This was a realistic possibility being she was in witness protection. Or reason number two, Sue Dodd, the manager at the truck stop, lied to me. The second reason couldn’t be ignored.

I texted back: Meet me at the mansion at midnight. Have a judge on speed dial and dress for a raid.

Next, I texted Uncle Hank: Wake up any cops still at mansion and be ready in 30. Dress in darks and carry your badge.

Uncle Hank replied seconds later: We’ll be ready.

I didn’t feel like listening to my voicemail, so instead I asked Wild Card, “What does Kelsey want?”

“To ask if you’re ready for the B&E tonight,” Wild Card answered. “And probably to grill you with a million questions to prove it.”

I looked at Garth, who nodded, letting me know the car had been acquired. I looked back at Wild Card. “Change in plans. I’m not going to the B&E.”

“Kelsey’s going to be pissed,” Ryan said with only a hint of a smirk.

“Tough. Kelsey can run the B&E remotely. She’s done it a hundred times. Bones, Bridget, and Trigger, you’ll take the dentist office job tonight. The car you need is parked on the second floor in the parking ramp. Keys are above the visor. And don’t tell Kelsey about the change in plans until you’re onsite and ready to roll. I don’t want her trying to rush to the scene just because I’m not there.” I used my hand to rub my eyes, mentally walking through their job. “You’ll need to dump the car after the job, so wear gloves. Garth can show you on a map the best places.”

“Got it,” Bridget said. “I’ll go change.”

Trigger followed Garth over to a desk as Baker pulled out a map.

I stood and stretched my arms over my head. “Everyone else—except Maggie—can call it a night. I’ll only be taking law enforcement with me.”

“You still need a bodyguard,” Bones said.

“Anyone who’s with me tonight will be officially on the record. That means subject to a subpoena to testify if deemed necessary. Anyone really want to take that on?”

Maggie, Bones, Jackson, and Ryan all pointed to Wild Card.

Wild Card shrugged. “Badge or not, you still need someone watching your six. And I don’t mind testifying.”

“He’s actually pretty good at it,” Maggie said, giggling. “Entertaining as hell.”

“Fine,” I said, not having enough energy to argue. “But that’s it. No more bodyguards. I’ll need to keep a low profile tonight.”

“Take Beast, too,” Spence said. “He’d be happy to testify if needed.