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

An image of Beast sitting in the witness chair flashed in my brain. “And if I don’t agree?”

Spence shrugged. “Then expect to see me in your rearview mirror.”

Wild Card’s head snapped in Spence’s direction. “That’s a good idea.”

“What?” I asked. “Taking Beast?”

“No, well yes, taking Beast is a good idea, but that wasn’t what I was talking about. Let’s have Spence hang back tonight and see if he catches anyone following you.”

“Wouldn’t work. This guy’s trained.”

“I’ve got a bag full of equipment,” Trigger said, turning back toward us. “We could put a tracker on your car. Spence can hang back a good mile or two if needed.”

“I can drive your truck, instead of mine,” Spence said. “He’s not likely to know about your Toyota.”

“I drove my rental,” Ryan said. “I’ll take turns with Spence approaching and falling back to see if we spot anyone. It beats heading back to the mansion and being bored.”

“And we—” Wild Card pointed between him and me “—can take my rental. It already smells like ode de la Beast.”

“I’m not ready to call it a night either,” Jackson said. “I’ll play lookout for the B&E.”

“Great. We have a plan,” Maggie said, slapping her hands together. “Now, as for clothes. I packed suits, swim suits, and designer wear. I didn’t plan on midnight escapades, so what am I going to wear?”

“Definitely not designer wear,” I told her. “We’ll be creeping around in the dark.”

“Maggie’s about the same size as Evie,” Baker said, walking toward his suite. “I’ll ask to borrow some clothes.” The way he hurried into the next room, I suspected he’d been waiting for an excuse to check on Evie.

I shook my head. “Those with me, we’ll regroup at the mansion. I’m going to change before I leave, so I’ll meet you there.”

“That’s too bad,” Spence said, eyeing my body. “I kind of like the romper.”

I started for the door, commenting over my shoulder, “If you catch Mr. Tricky for me tonight, maybe I’ll reward you by wearing it again sometime.”

Chapter Forty-Two

KELSEY

Wednesday, 12:05 a.m.

I fisted my hands as my anger sparked. “What do you mean, Charlie’s not coming?” I asked over my mic.

“She had another mission tonight,” Bridget answered. “We’re good, though. We have a three-man team—Trigger, Bones, and I—to enter the building. And as a bonus, Jackson’s parked down the street as lookout.”

“Yo,” Jackson said over his mic.

“Charlie should’ve called me so I could plan the job without her. This wasn’t the plan!”

“Get over it. Plans change,” Bones said. “We doing this or what?”

“I can’t believe she did this.”

“Hey, Boss,” Trigger said. “You know something we don’t about this job?”

Was there something different? I asked myself. On numerous occasions I’d sent Trigger and Bridget into buildings just like this one. The fact that the building was used to lure women into the world of sex trafficking was the only real difference. And Bones was with them. I trusted him to keep them safe. They were right, we didn’t need Charlie. But she’d agreed to do the job, and now she was off doing…

Ah, I thought. There’s the problem. I don’t know what she’s doing. She’s off my radar.

“Boss?” Trigger said.

“The job’s a go. But does anyone know where Charlie went?”

“She’s doing cop shit,” Bones answered. “She has at least five badges with her, plus Wild Card and Beast.”

“Okay. I’ll call her later, but you guys have a green light. Tech’s tapped into the city’s camera system, but none of the cameras are installed on your block. We’ll only be able to see cars entering from two blocks north of your location, and about three blocks out on the other three sides. Having Jackson play lookout was a good idea.”

Tech reached over and unmuted his headset. “Inventory check. Tasers?”

“Check,” Bridget and Trigger responded.

“Zip cuffs?”

“Check.”

“Surveillance equipment backpack?”

“Check.”

“B&E fanny packs?”

“Check.”

“What the hell’s a B&E fanny pack?” Bones asked.

Tech ignored him. “Body Cams turned on?”

Two monitors in front of Tech lit up—Bridget and Trigger’s cams. The third screen stayed dark.

“Bones,” I said, leaning against the post in the tiki lounge. “Turn your camera on or you’re off this op.”

“Told you,” Bridget said, giggling.

“How is wearing a body cam for a B&E a good idea?” Bones argued.

“It’s a secure connection,” Tech said. “No worries, man. The feed is encrypted to ensure I have full control over the data. But it comes in handy for us to be able to see shit on our end.”

Bones sighed, but the third monitor lit up.

“Sensor scan,” Tech ordered.

“Scan clear,” Trigger said, holding the heat scanner in front of his body cam so we could see that there wasn’t a significant heat signature coming from inside the building.

“You guys have a body heat scanner?” Bones asked.

Everyone ignored Bones.

“Ready?” I asked

“Ready to roll,” Bridget answered.

“Locked, loaded, and amped,” Trigger answered.

“This is ridiculous. Can we just go, already?” Bones asked.

“Watch for squatters in the building next door,” I said. “They’re not likely to call the police, but you never know. Eyes open. Team Kelsey is a go.”

Bones’ cam jetted up and down as he jogged down the sidewalk and snuck into the alley around the corner.

Bridget giggled as she and Trigger walked casually down the sidewalk before turning into the alley. Bones stood annoyed, with his hands perched on hips, as he waited for them.

Trigger walked over next to the dumpster and interlocked his fingers. Bridget placed her left foot in his hands and with his help, sprang upward, landing on top of the dumpster. By the time Trigger climbed on top, Bridget had the window open and he followed her inside. Bones’ body cam showed