Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7)

“That’s not what I said,” James insisted. “Tyler’s only a prospect. He’s not a full member, yet.”
“And shame on you for that. That kid has proved himself for almost two years. Vote him in already.”
“Don’t tell me how to run my club!” James yelled.
“Why not? You’re telling me how to manage my security team!”
We glared at each other for nearly two full minutes before James stormed out of the room. Carl giggled before turning his attention back to his computer. Reggie rolled his eyes before returning to his game.
I closed the electronic file for the murder case and clicked the icon on the FBI consulting case. It detailed a string of fraud cases in Nevada. The FBI was asking for a profile on their perp. Their cases typically had piles of research already completed, but they lacked enough profilers. I had established a quick-glance service through Special Agent in Charge Jack Tebbs and word was rapidly spreading to other offices. Tech offered the same rate to other law enforcement offices for the quick-glance service, or they could choose the hourly rate if we agreed to take on their case. Most took the quick-glance, just needing a second set of eyes to point their investigation in a new direction.
I was halfway through the profile when Bridget and Tech returned. Two minutes after that, the door opened and Hattie and Tweedle entered. Tweedle walked forward, admiring the wall displays. Her eyes flickered briefly to the floor as she was stepping onto the mural where it appeared the concrete dropped into flames. Startled, she threw herself backward, tripped over Tech’s chair, and fell into one of the spare chairs. The chair flew, with her in it, into the back wall, slamming into the wall with enough force to cause the wall hangings to shake. I leapt forward, pinning the archaic battle axe to the wall as it swung toward her head. Tweedle slowly tipped her head back and looked up. When she saw the giant axe only inches away, she gulped.
“Let’s not tell Ryan about this,” Bridget said, giggling, from the other side of the room.
I raised an eyebrow at Bridget as I lifted the axe and handed it to Tech.
Bridget unsuccessfully tried to hide her smile. “I’ll find someone to better secure the wall ornaments.” She walked out, bursting out laughing as the door closed behind her.
“How are the new houses coming along?” I asked Hattie.
“Splendid, dear. They started framing the exterior walls on the first floor of Katie’s house.”
Tweedle exhaled deeply, looking down at the floor while she continued to sit in Tech’s chair.
Hattie giggled, shaking her head. “There was, however, a minor mishap involving a nail gun and Tweedle’s dress.”
“It’s the third dress I’ve destroyed in less than twenty-four hours,” Tweedle said as she held out the side of the dress that had a perfectly round nail hole.
“Clothes are never a problem around here,” I said, grabbing my phone and taking a picture of Tweedle. “I’m beginning to wonder, though, whether Ryan had the right idea keeping you safely tucked away in our kitchen.”
I sent the picture to Alex, and he texted back a thumbs up.
The door opened and Nicholas and Sara entered, both running over to hug me.
“What are you two doing out of the classroom?”
“They both have dentist appointments,” Hattie said. “I was able to change their appointments for during my visit.”
“Are you sure? I can try pushing my cases.”
“Nonsense. I already know that Sara’s teeth are perfect and Nicholas will have two more cavities. I have the praise and shame-on-you faces already prepared.”
Nicholas and Sara both laughed at Hattie.
“Cavities, huh?” I asked, crossing my arms and looking down at Nicholas with my serious parent face. “Do we need to babysit you while you brush your teeth?”
“I brush them every morning,” he said.
“What about at night? You tell me you brush them before bed too. Are you fibbing?”
He shrugged his shoulders and looked up at me innocently. When I couldn’t hide the smirk, he smiled his toothy grin and ran toward Hattie. “Bye, Mom.”
Hattie raised an eyebrow at me as the kids pulled her out the door. “We’ll have to work on your shame-on-you face, Kelsey.”
“I’ll get right on that,” I said before turning to Tweedle. “I’m not sure whether it’s safe for you to be in the war room until the weapons are properly secured.”
“She knows Wayne,” Tech said. “I’ll text him and ask if she can hang out with him while we work.”
“Is that okay with you?” I asked Tweedle.
“I feel like I’m in everyone’s way.”
“Nonsense. If you know Wayne, you know there’s nothing he likes better than flirting with a pretty girl.”
“That’s an understatement,” Beth said from the doorway. “Alverez turned him down for a date again. He’s on the prowl for his next victim.”
“He’s not bothering you, is he?”
“No. I made it clear I wasn’t available.”
“Lied, huh?”
“Stretched the truth a bit.” She shrugged, grinning. “My dog Storm does tend to get jealous.”
“Well, watch out for my ex-husband. He’s visiting from Texas, and you’re his type.”
“What type is that?” Beth asked.
“Gorgeous,” Bridget answered as she walked back into the war room. “Goat’s coming over this afternoon to secure the weapons so we don’t have another mishap.”
“Well, I’m off,” Beth said. “Unless you have anything I can help with?”
“Bored again?” I asked.
“I need a hobby,” Beth admitted. “I’ve been going stir crazy in my apartment.”
“Stick around. You can help Carl and me with this case,” Bridget said, nodding toward her side of the table.
“I’m not sure I can handle the gore.”
“Jewel and art thief,” I said. “No gore. So far, the thief hasn’t hurt anyone in any of the burglaries. We’d like to catch him before his perfect record changes.”