Page 71 of Bite the Bullet

He nodded at her with wide eyes. “It scared me too, Mama. It was so loud.”

“I know.” She knelt down in front of him, taking his hands in hers. “But we’re going to forget about all that today and just have fun.”

“Come eat some breakfast,” I said, carrying the plates over to the table. I was just sitting down when the doorbell rang. I strode over, pulling open the door only to find a package sitting on the stoop.

I didn’t see anyone around, but that didn’t mean someone wasn’t watching. “I’ll be right back,” I said over my shoulder, closing the door behind me. I slid my finger under the seal and pulled out a phone. Turning it on, I was relieved to see it was from Rae. Based on the video feed they’d installed last night, she’d already gotten some intel on what probably happened.

The man who lived next to Skylar was caught skimming from the coffers, selling the weapons at a higher rate and pocketing the difference. Baz was sending a message to everyone else in the area.

“Rae,” I answered the phone as it rang.

“It’s Johnny. All eyes are on you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The chatter from last night indicated that Baz’s guys suspect you.”

“Of what?”

“At this point, none of them know. But they’re definitely doing some digging.”

“What about you?”

“We’re solid with Baz, but these guys don’t know the deal we made with Baz. They’re definitely suspicious.”

“What exactly was the deal you made with him?”

“We’re independent contractors. We fed him intel on one of his guys, and when it panned out, he decided to place us in the neighborhood to keep eyes on everyone that might have worked with this guy.”

I glanced over at the burnt house. “Was the intel on the guy who was just burned to death?”

“No, just a pure coincidence. His interest lies in his number two at the end of the street.”

“So, if anyone finds your cameras in their houses?—”

“Baz won’t suspect a thing. This is what he hired us to do.”

“Thanks.”

“Watch your back.”

“That’s what I have you for,” I said as I hung up. If Johnny was right and they all suspected me of working against Baz, it would only be a matter of time before they came at me, and anyone I was involved with. Skylar and Parker weren’t safe around me, but they weren’t safe with Rico either. It was time to give Officer Pete a call.

“Monkeys! Monkeys!”Parker screamed, pulling us down the trail to the monkey exhibit.

We’d already been here for three hours. I didn’t know you couldspend so much time at a zoo, let alone collect so much crap. I was already carrying around three stuffed animals and had a monkey backpack slung over my shoulders that Parker insisted I wear.

“Ooh! Jack! Look at that!” Parker pointed to Hi-Striker. It was that Ring the Bell game they had at fairs, but this was supersized. “Can you do it?”

“Don’t waste your money,” one of the dads standing nearby said. “Seriously, it’s rigged so you can’t win.”

I glanced at the man, examining his clothing choices. Khaki shorts with a plaid shirt tucked in, paired with argyle socks and loafers. And let’s not forget the fanny pack. It was no wonder this douchebag thought it couldn’t be done. He didn’t have the upper body strength to bench press five pounds.

“The winner gets to choose from any of these stuffed animals,” the woman running the game said, winking at me.

I narrowed my eyes at her, pissed that she was hitting on me when I was with a kid. She didn’t know that Skylar and I weren’t married.

“Can you do it? Please, please, please?” Parker begged.

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