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

“How the hell do I justify taking time off with a serial killer running loose in Miami?”

“If we don’t catch the killer in the next day or two, it could take us months to close the case. Either way, Miranda’s packing, so if you change the plans on her she really will divorce your ass.”

Chambers waved a hand toward our surroundings. “Where are we?”

Gibson pointed across the shaggy brush field that separated the truck stop and the restaurant. “That’s the truck stop where Roseline Pageotte worked. But I have no idea why we’re here.”

“Roseline’s boss, Sue Dodd, told me she left several messages for Roseline when she didn’t show for her shift.”

“Ah, the phone,” Quille said, catching up with me. “Did you ask the manager if she called the same number we have on file?”

“No. Either Roseline had another phone or Dodd’s lied to me. I’m not willing to tip her off by asking just yet.”

“So… This is a stakeout?” Uncle Hank asked.

“Yuppers,” I answered.

Everyone except Gibson and Wild Card sighed.

“And there’s a fifty-fifty chance we’re wasting our time?” Quille asked.

“Yup.”

“But you have a hunch,” Uncle Hank said as he crossed his arms over his chest and smirked. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have asked for backup. You would’ve sat on the truck stop alone.”

“It’s more of a theory than a hunch. And I have no idea if it will play out tonight or a month from now.”

Quille sighed and rubbed a hand across his forehead. “Spit it out. I’m not getting any younger.”

“When I was here the other night, lots of trucks were coming and going. But as soon as the word cop was uttered, they all turned and fled.”

“Truckers keep to themselves,” Chambers said. “Why did that surprise you?”

“Truckers avoid cops, yes, but they don’t typically flee like rats in a fire. And Dodd said the last time the police were here, it took days for the truckers to reappear. Was she exaggerating? Or do the truckers know something we don’t about this place and don’t want to get caught up in it?”

“What are you thinking?” Quille asked.

“I’m thinking there’s something shady going on and Sue Dodd is part of it. And according to Roseline’s brother, if there was something shady happening here, Roseline would’ve picked up on it.”

“What are the odds Roseline would be employed at another dirty truck stop?” Uncle Hank asked.

“Statistically, we know that twenty-four-hour businesses tend to have higher crime rates,” I answered. “Add in the fact that the truck stop is off the main expressway, has multiple exit routes, and is on the outskirts of most patrol zones…”

“We get it,” Quille said, finishing for me. “The perfect real estate for the criminally inclined.”

“Not to mention, one side of the building’s exterior lights are out,” Wild Card said from the outskirts of our circle.

Wild Card stood with his hands on his hips, facing away from us. The field between the truck stop and the restaurant parking lot was mostly flat with a few short scrappy shrubs thrown in. I looked past the field and saw what Wild Card saw. The west side of the building, the side closest to us, had tall post lights on the outskirts of the parking lot, but along the exterior of the building the lights were out, leaving a section of darkness.

“Son of a bitch. How did I miss that?” I whispered to myself more than anyone. “I was just here less than forty-eight hours ago.”

“You were pretty busy that night getting your ass kicked,” Quille said, letting me off the hook. “But how did I miss it?”

“By the time you arrived, there were police lights and spotlights everywhere,” I said, letting him off the hook, too.

Uncle Hank turned to look at me. “You’ve been inside. What’s on the west side of the building?”

I thought back to when I was inside the truck stop. I’d parked to the far south, walked north into the building. The cash register was to the west, and the manager’s office and employee-only area was behind the register. “Employee only section. Likely a storage room. Definitely an office.”

“What’s the plan?” Detective Chambers asked.

“You and Gibson take the east parking lot,” I said, handing him two earpieces. “I’m limited on cameras, so use your phones if you see anything picture worthy.”

“I keep a camera in my trunk,” Detective Chambers said. “And before you ask, yes, I’ll make sure Gibson turns the flash off.”

I smiled at Chambers before turning to Uncle Hank and Quille. “You two can do your good ole’ boy routine. Wander inside and buy food your wives would have hissy fits over, then park yourselves at the outdoor tables nearby.”

Uncle Hank looked sideways at Quille as he moved his holster from his hip to his back, pulling his shirt out of his pants to conceal it. “Golf vacation? Or business trip?”

“Let’s go with business trip since we’re both wearing wrinkled button-ups,” Quille answered, walking with Hank back to his car. “Insurance sales again?”

“Let’s switch it up. How about—” Uncle Hank said before their car doors shut and the rest of the conversation was lost to us.

I turned to Maggie and Wild Card. “The three of us,” I paused to look down at Beast, “I meant four of us,” I said to Beast before turning back to Maggie and Wild Card, “will set up on the northwest corner of the lot. We can position ourselves in the weeds. We’ll have a clear view of the exit.”

“No way,” Wild Card said, looking at the display on his phone. He turned the display to show a google image of the area. “Let’s stay in the field on the west side. There’s a canal to the north. I’ll guard you against