Free ZERO HERO (The Kate Huntington Mystery series) by Kassandra Lamb Page B

enough in Baltimore City. Innocent bystanders got caught in the crossfire of drive-bys and drug deals that went awry.
                “Unh-uh,” Dolph said, “Gun had a silencer on it. Not the norm in drive-bys. And one or two shots might be strays. Four, unlikely. The guy shouted, ‘ Amigos .’ Makes me think it was one of Frederico’s men. A total stranger would more likely just shout, ‘Watch out.’”
                “What are we going to do, guys?” Rose was gripping the edge of the table, her knuckles white.
                They all stared at her. They’d never known Rose to lose control, not once. But then again, no one had ever shot her man before.
                “We investigate.” Skip’s words were matter-of-fact but his tone was gentle. “Tomorrow we go downtown and try to figure out the answers to those questions.”
                “I feel obligated as an officer of the court,” Rob said, “to point out that the city police might not appreciate that.”
                “I’ll clear it with Cooper in the morning,” Skip said. “I doubt he’ll object as long as we don’t get in the way of his people.”
                “Once Mac is stable, I’m going undercover, in Frederico’s operation,” Rose said.
                Not if he’s stable, but once he’s stable, Kate noted. Rose wasn’t brooking any other possibilities.
                She was a beat slower than her husband registering the other implication of what Rose had just said. His mouth had fallen open.
                “There’s only one job he’d hire you for,” Skip said. “And you know what the interview would involve. Are you willing to do that ?”
                Rose dropped her gaze to the table top. Kate realized she was staring at her ring finger. At the ruby, surrounded by small diamonds, that Mac had given her when they’d gotten engaged, and the gold band that now sat beside it.
                Kate’s detachment slipped. She fought down the sobs threatening to erupt. Her first impulse was to reach out to pat her friend’s arm. She stopped the hand halfway there. Rose would resent comforting right now.
                “No,” Rose finally said with a shudder. “And I’d probably strangle the bastard if I was in the same room with him.”
                Then she looked up, excitement now mixed with anger on her face. “But I can pretend to be a hooker, new to town, hang out on the street corners with the ladies. It’d be totally natural for me to ask questions about the local pimps.”
                “And nobody knows a pimp’s business quite like his girls,” Dolph said.
                “You and I are her back-up,” Skip said to him.
                Rose stood up. “I’m going up to the ICU.”
                Kate started to say she’d go with her, but it occurred to her that Rose might prefer to be alone. She made it a question instead. “You want me to sit with you?”
                Rose shook her head. “I’ll call if there’s any change.”
    ~~~~~~~~
                When they got home, Maria had just finished supervising the kids’ baths. Kate helped her get them ready for bed, then Skip took over for story time. Outside Billy’s door, Maria said in a soft voice, “You two no eat. I warm dinner up now.”
                “That’s okay,” Kate replied. “I’m not all that hungry. We’ve imposed on you enough tonight.”
                Maria looked up at her, eyes narrowed and lips pursed. She headed down the stairs to the kitchen instead of upstairs to her third-floor apartment.
                Kate sighed and followed her down. At the bottom of stairs, Maria turned. Tears were pooled in her dark eyes. “Iz not impozing! Mac iz mi cousin. He iz familia . You all... mi familia .”