Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7), Kaylie Hunter [guided reading books TXT] 📗

one stalker, four suspected rapists, two embezzlers, one murderer, and a fucking pedophile.”

I could feel my eyebrows rise. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m serious. The disgusting part is they’re all rich enough to have wormed their way out of the charges.”

“Or,” Beth said, “they were sentenced to something ridiculous like a five-figure fine or house arrest.”

“Even the pedophile?” Tech asked.

“Roaming free,” Bridget said, nodding.

We were all quiet, thinking as we drank our beer.

There was a knock on the door, and Tech got up to answer it. On the other side of the door, Tyler stood grinning at us.

“Problem?” I asked.

“Nope,” he said, shaking his head and walking into the room. “I couldn’t remember the code to your war room, though. Between the houses and the store, I have too many security codes in my head.” He helped himself to a beer and sat in the end chair. “I’m calling it a day. I’ve got two guys from Devil’s Players and two guys from Demon Slayers monitoring your house.”

“If you called in the Slayers, you must be screwing with James,” I said, grinning.

Tyler shrugged, the corner of his lips turning up. “I thought it was time he understood security was my gig.”

“Good for you.”

“Why does everyone look so serious?” Tyler asked. “I heard you solved a cold case today.”

“We did,” Tech said. “Bridget and Beth just filled us in on their case. It’s, uh, unusual.”

“How so?”

“We’re rooting for the bad guy,” Beth said, laughing. “The people he’s screwing with totally deserve it.”

“Simple then,” Tyler said. “Just don’t solve the case.”

“It’s a million-dollar reward,” Bridget said.

Tyler shook his head. “You can’t look at it that way. We break the law all the time to capture the bad guys or protect our family and friends. We do it because we’re on the right side. Stay on the right side. Find another case.”

“I agree,” I said, closing the file. “The reward money doesn’t justify punishing the only person who is holding those asshats accountable for their actions.”

“What about the bet with Donovan?” Tech asked.

“There’s no actual prize other than bragging rights. If we don’t beat him in profits this year, we’ll take him down next year. I’m not willing to risk my morals to knock Donovan down a few pegs.”

“The year’s not over yet,” Bridget said. “Let’s find another case.”

“Hang on,” Tech said, typing on his computer. “Kemp’s been organizing the case requests. I’ll have him bring us a summary.”

I rolled my eyes. “You could pick up the phone, or heaven forbid, walk down the hall to talk to him.”

“Typing is faster,” Tech said.

Tyler walked over and held the door open.

Kemp walked through it twenty seconds later, carrying a stack of papers and a large folder. “I have the case file list, along with summaries including locations, general backgrounds, and payment details,” Kemp said, handing Tech several sheets of paper. “I also have the invoices to be billed. If you can review them,” Kemp handed me a thick folder with at least fifty invoices, “I’ll get them in the mail today.”

“Damn. If our billing is this far behind maybe we can still beat Donovan this year.”

“I couldn’t have been that far behind,” Tech said, shaking his head.

“Afraid so,” Kemp said. “I reconciled the invoices against the prior payments, just to make sure we didn’t double bill anyone.”

“My bad,” Tech said, laughing. “And look at this. There are nine other cases with payouts of over a quarter of a million.”

“Let’s get to work then,” Tyler said.

“I thought you were going home,” I said.

“James isn’t the only one who needs to learn I work for you. Donovan’s about to realize it, too.”

“Go Team Kelsey!” Bridget said, standing to high five each of us.

“You’re all crazy,” Beth said as she pulled a laptop toward her. “But send me a file.”

Kemp assigned files out electronically. He offered to help Tech research leads as needed.

“Bridget?” I asked.

“Yeah?” she answered, not looking up from her laptop.

“Now that we’ve agreed not to take the case, who’s the thief?”

She glanced up at me. “You mean, thieves.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“I connected five teenagers who are either family members or close friends of the families who were burglarized. My guess is they’re throwing the art and jewels into the ocean. Never mess with a pissed off teenager.”

“I’ll remember that,” I said, laughing as I turned back to the file of invoices.

Chapter Eight

We were two hours into research when Trigger walked into the war room. “We dumped Reggie in the gym. We didn’t know what you wanted us to do with him.”

I went out and looked over the rail to the gym below. Reggie was sprawled out on the plank floor, sound asleep. Returning to the war room, I grabbed a pile of permanent markers from the credenza before going back to the walkway and whistling. Several guards, including Wayne, jogged over. I tossed the markers down. “Do me a favor and teach Reggie a lesson.”

The guys laughed as they uncapped the markers. I went back to the war room and saved my work. “It’s time to call it a day. I need to get home before Nicholas starts calling me every five minutes.”

“Whose night is it to cook?” Tech asked, standing and stretching.

“It was mine, but Hattie texted that she had it handled. Tweedle was helping her.”

“I’m inviting myself to dinner,” Beth said. “I was supposed to go grocery shopping today.”

“You’re learning,” Bridget said, smirking at Beth. “And you’re in luck. Hattie said tacos were on the menu tonight.”

“Yum,” Tech said, rubbing his stomach. “I haven’t had tacos in ages.”

I shook my head at Tech before looking back to Beth. “What about your dog, Storm?”

“I have time