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

wasn’t sure what color you wanted, so I grabbed everything in the third drawer,” Dallas said as she sat next to me in the middle seat.

“What’s in the other drawers?” Wild Card asked, picking up a sequined bikini top that had fallen on my lap.

“Don’t answer that!” I said to Dallas, nodding to the kids in the back seat.

Dallas glanced over her shoulder before pressing her lips together, trying to hide her laughter.

Katie turned in her seat and looked at Dallas. “You realize you’re stuck with us until after the competition now, right?”

Bridget whipped the van in a sharp U-turn, and I grabbed Dallas before she fell to the floor.

Dallas laughed as she sat up straight. “Beats sitting at home, cleaning. Besides, I might prove to be a valuable team member.”

I looked down at the pile of stripper outfits in Dallas’ arms, and an idea popped into my head. “Tech. Can you look up what the indecent exposure law in Michigan is? Find out what the penalty is if a senior citizen were to wear a stripper outfit outside a public museum.”

“Dave’s going to kill you,” Wild Card said, laughing beside me.

“Where to?” Bridget called out.

“Head towards town,” I called back.

“Katie, call Madge Grenner. Ask her if we can borrow her gnomes for the day. Tell her I especially want the one flipping the bird.”

“Trigger, call the hot dog place on West Main and have them prepare two dozen Coney Dutch dogs and charge them to the company card. Tell them we don’t care if they get cold, but to have them ready for us.”

“Anne, call Mayor Henderson and have him meet us ASAP at the mission. Tell him there’ll be a photo op, but only if he hurries. We need a team picture with him in it.”

“Dallas, call Father Eric and tell him we need six purple shirts. With all the clothes we donate, I’m sure he can find at least six that no one wants. I don’t want to bother Alex on a Saturday. And we can take the picture with the Mayor while we’re there.”

Dallas called Father Eric and proceeded to talk to him in a flirty voice. I rolled my eyes.

Trigger turned in his seat to look at me. “I’ve got the owner of the hot dog place on the phone. He says they don’t open until eleven, and it will take an hour to get the steamers and grills going.”

“We don’t have to eat them,” I said, rolling my eyes. “We just need two dozen to take back with us.”

Trigger nodded.

“Head to Pine Street,” Katie said, hanging up her phone. “Madge is packaging a few gnomes and will meet us at the end of the driveway.”

“What else is on the list?” Wild Card asked.

“A comical sign, four flamingos, and a beach umbrella.”

“They have flamingo drink decorations at the dance club downtown,” Bridget said. “I know a bouncer there. Katie, pull my phone and call Elvis.”

“Elvis?” Katie asked.

“Nickname,” Bridget said, listening to her phone when Katie put it on speaker.

“Is this the beautiful Bridget?” a deep male voice answered.

“You’re so lucky Bones isn’t with me right now,” Bridget said, laughing. “I need a favor. We’re on a scavenger hunt and in desperate need of pink flamingos. Can you get your hands on those cocktail decorations from the club?”

“I happen to have a box in my kitchen. Don’t tell the owner. I live on Pacific Street. Can you make it this way or should I meet you somewhere?”

“We can meet you,” Wild Card called out as he looked at a map on this phone. “We need to stop at Calvin’s gym, which is only two streets away.”

“I’ll have them ready.”

Katie pointed at the upcoming road. “Take a right. Blue house on the left.”

Bridget took a sharp right turn before pulling to the left side of the road and stopping the van illegally. As Bridget finished talking with Elvis, Katie jumped out of the van and met Madge mid yard to take the box of gnomes. Trigger opened the side door and took the box when Katie returned, passing it back to set on the floor out of the way.

“Why are we going to Calvin’s gym?” I asked Wild Card.

“Comical sign,” Wild Card said, pointing to the list. “He has a sign in his office that says: Due to the rising cost of bullets, there will be no warning shot.”

“He also has a sign in the bathroom that says: Weed - Next 3 Exits,” Trigger said.

“Doesn’t he have more scattered in the gym too?” Anne asked. “I remember a road construction sign that was supposed to say drive slowly, but was a misprint and says: Caution - slow drively.”

I called Calvin’s personal cell.

“No,” Calvin said when he answered. “You can’t have them all, but I’ll let you borrow one sign.”

“I take it Bones called already?”

“Called and showed up five minutes later. He’s still here, taking down the bathroom sign. They wanted all of them, but I refused. I’ll take a few more down and have one waiting for you.”

“I’ll send Trigger in when we get there, but we have another stop to make before your place.”

“I was Bones’ first stop. How far are you on the list?” Calvin asked.

“We’re about five minutes from our third item, then you’ll be our fourth. We already have people working on the rest of the list.”

Calvin laughed. “You’re smokin’ their asses. Power to you, sweetheart, but I want to see your scrawny ass in my gym next week.”

“Deal. I’ll bring the girls with me and you can put us through the wringer. Thanks, Calvin.” I hung up. “All right, Calvin’s going to save us a sign. Bones is there now and they’re getting their first item.”

Everyone cheered