To Kill A Songbird : Deadly Lights

Jude Pittman

Description

Texas PI Kelly McWinter is back in action, mixing business with pleasure on a long delayed honeymoon. Providing security for a nominee at the Country Music Awards sounds like glitz and glamour, but Kelly and Gillian find themselves chasing kidnappers in California and tracking a killer in Las Vegas. Things aren't quiet back home, either. Officers of the Fort Worth PD have stumbled into a homegrown militia operation while searching for three missing teens, and Gus asks for help coordinating the ATF Task Force. Kelly's going to need a vacation from his vacation. With this sexy new Kelly McWinter novel, readers will discover a whole new side to the ruggedly handsome PI and his firecracker wife.

Informations

• Publié par: BWL Publishing Inc.
• Date de parution: 14 mars 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9781772998719
• Langue: English

Extrait

To Kill A Songbird
McWinter Confidential
By Jamie Hill and Jude Pittman
 

 
EPUB  9781772998719
Kindle  978-1-77299-952-5
WEB  9781772998726
 
BWL Print 9781772998740
Amazon Print 9781772998757

Copyright 2016 Jamie Gerry
Copyright 2016 Jude Pittman
Cover Art Michelle Lee
 
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rightsunder copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may bereproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, ortransmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior writtenpermission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of thisbook.
 
Dedication
 
To all the Kelly McWinter fans we hope you enjoyKelly’s new series
Chapter One
 
Kelly McWinterparked his pickup, fondly referred to as old Blue, in the garagebehind Lake Country Stables. His wife Gillian had inherited theproperty from her father and when she and Kelly married he’d givenup his cabin at Indian Creek and moved into her sprawling ranchhouse just outside of Fort Worth. Kelly loved the ranch, everythingfrom the white rail fence surrounding the immaculate grounds to thewell-worn and comfortable swing that welcomed him to the backporch. He and Gillian spent many a hot summer night sipping icedtea or cold beer and rocking contentedly in the sultry Texasevenings.
Gillian camethrough the screen door with two glasses of tea just as Kellymounted the steps and headed for the swing. “Hey there! Not thatI’m complaining, but what are you doing home in the middle of theafternoon?”
“ Wel-l-l-l,” Kelly drawled out the l’s, “I stopped by theHideaway and Stella made me an offer.”
“ Ah ha.She’s at it again is she? I’ll have to have a talk with thatwoman.” Gillian laughed and handed Kelly his glass.
StellaDavis married Kelly’s best friend three years ago, and after arocky start, she and Gillian became best friends. Stella had provena rather persistent thorn in Kelly’s side with her constant queriesabout when he was going to tie Gillian up before someone else camealong and swept her up in his saddle. It had taken another year,but Kelly finally asked Gillian to become his wife and she hadhappily accepted.
“ Actually, I think you might like this brainstorm of hers.You remember her niece, Marcy?”
“ Ofcourse. I follow her career on ET, and if I didn’t I’d be gettingthe details from Aunty Stella every time we talked anyhow. Marcy Fischer is one of thisyear’s nominees for the Country Music Academy’s female vocalist ofthe year.”
Kellychuckled. “Guess there’s not much point trying to surprise you. DidStella tell you about the crazed fan who broke into Marcy’shouse?”
“ My God,no. She isn’t hurt is she?”
“ No, atleast not physically. He scared the hell of her though, and Mark,who as you know is stuck in Russia, is fit to be tied.”
“Oh, I sense aPI project on tap.”
Kelly chuckled.“You know me too well. But you might like this one a lot betterthan some of my other jobs.”
“I’m all ears.First, tell me about Marcy’s break in.”
“ One ofher over-zealous fans climbed the wall surrounding her Nashvilleproperty, used some kind of jammer to disarm her security system,and almost made it up the stairs to Marcy’s bedroom.”
“ Wherewas herhusband?”
“ Apparently Mark has gotten pretty involved in politicsthese past couple of years. He’s a member of the legal team thatPresident Obama sent over to Russia to oversee the review ofdocuments discovered in one of those Nazi vaults in East Germany.It’s only recently that Russia conceded that the Western world hada right to work alongside their own researchers to establishprovenance of the materials. It’s an honor to be named to the team,but it’s a long process. Mark won’t be back for at least threemonths. Marcy’s been on her own  well, she’s not alone,like any celebrity she’s always got an entourage, but she doesn’thave her husband.”
“ She musthave been terrified.”
“ She was,and believe it or not, the only reason the intruder didn’t reachMarcy’s bedroom is because Stella had given her one of her dogLucy’s puppies.”
“Really. Hearthat Jake. Good breeding.”
Jake lifted hisnose and shook his head, before nuzzling it back down on Kellyleg.”
“ Yep.Marcy said the pup had his basket right behind the front stairway.The intruder came in through the French doors and he’d no soonerset foot on the front step when the dog went into a frenzy ofbarking that brought everyone in the house out of theirrooms.”
Kelly ranhis hand along Jake’s back and leaned close to his ears. “Hearthat, boy? One of your pups grabbed that moron’s pant leg and senthim sprawling ass over teakettle down the stairs. Knocked him outcold.”
Gillian,who started grinning when Kelly described the intruder’s retreatdown the stairs, was now laughing so hard tears streamed down hercheeks.
“ I knowit probably scared poor Marcy to death, but I’d give a pretty pennyto have a picture of that pup hanging on to that idiot’s pant legas he tumbled down the stairs.”
Kellypaused and joined her with a chuckle of his own.“ Marcy’s assistant Bellacalled nine one one and got the police out there pronto.They arrested the suspect, a guy named Lucas Spadina. He’d beenpicked up a couple of times for trespassing and been suspected in acouple of peeping Tom cases, but nothing stuck. When the copsquestioned him this time he claimed Marcy invited him to stop byand see her.”
Gillianscoffed. “Not damn likely .”
“ Yeah,but you know how it goes. The jails are overcrowded, this guyhasn’t shown any propensity for violence, and of course Marcycouldn’t say for sure she hadn’t casually told a fan to stop andsee her sometime.”
“No way!”
“ Ofcourse she didn’t, but like I said, it’s one of those cases. He wasgiven community service and probation, plus he’s been ordered tostay away from Marcy and her property.”
“Lot of goodthat’ll do if he’s determined.”
“ Exactly.Which is why Stella made me an offer. Seems Marcy has to travel toLos Angeles in two weeks, she’s being considered for a segment ofthe television show Nashville, and she’s got a bunch of meetings inLA. After that, as one of the nominees, she’ll be attending the ACMAwards in Las Vegas.”
Gillian fixedhim with a direct blue eyed stare, “So?”
Kellygrinned and kept talking. “Marcy asked Stella to see if you and Icould go with her    as her guests of course   stay in a suite at the Beverly Wilshire, and then accompany her toVegas, in a studio jet.”
Gillian’ssmile grew wider andwider.
Kellysuppressed his grin and continued. “Once we get to Vegas we’ll bestaying in another suite at the MGM Grand. And oh yeah, we’ll haveVIP tickets to the ACM awards. You interested?”
“ Are youkidding me? Am I interested? You turn that down and I might just beaccused of committing justifiable homicide.”
“I knew I hadno business teaching you to shoot this winter.”
“But you aren’tlicensed in California or Nevada are you?”
“ Nope. Itold her that, but all she wants is a bodyguard to stand in forMark. He’s stuck in Russia and there’s no way he can get back forthe awards. Marcy told Stella he begged her to call and see if I’dagree to look after her.”
“ That’ssweet. I don’t blame Mark. I’d want you too if my life was indanger  well actually I’d want you even if it wasn’t.”Gillian turned in the swing and leaned into him, pressing her lipsagainst his.
Kellysavored the long kiss, then reluctantly pulled back. “What do you think, Gill? Wenever did get a chance to go on a honeymoon. First it was foalingtime and then the Martin case took me all the way down to El Paso,and what with one thing and another    your stables andmy PI work, life’s been crazy this past year. I think we could usea little Hollywood style R&R. What’ya say, you up for some Vegas, baby ?”
“ Oh I’mgame. Beverly Hills and then Las Vegas, first class all the way,I’d have to be crazy not to jump at the chance. You bet your life Iwant to go, this little gal’s papa didn’t raise nofool.”
“ Good.I’ll let Stella know. I’m sure you two will have lots to discuss,like what the heck we’re supposed to wear to some of those parties.I don’t mind a monkey suit for the awards ceremony, but I hopewe’re not expected to break the bank for every party she decides toattend.”
“ Iwouldn’t worry about it, Galahad.” Gillian patted his arm andleaned her head against his shoulder. I have a feeling you and Iwill be the least important spectators at the parties. As long aswe’re not in beach wear it’s doubtful either one of us will warranta second glance. I’ll talk to Stella and we’ll get it sortedout.”
“