Steele Resolve (The Detective Jasmine Steele Series Book 1) Read Online Free

think the smell woke my brain up because logic is starting to seep into my thoughts. Why would a perp be making coffee? Is he going to make sure I’m fully awake before he beats me to submission? That wouldn’t fit the normal profile would it?
    “Aunt Jazz, I can hear you.”
    Of course, the perp is a little twerp with a sense of humor. I peek around the corner and there is Chase, with a mug full of coffee and the paper. Just sit down and say thank you, you over protective fool.
    “Thanks, little man. I appreciate it.”
    “I was up. Besides, you snore.”
    “I do not.”
    “Aunt Jazz, your snoring could cause an earthquake big enough to swallow New York City.”
    There’s nothing to say to that really. I just smile and rub his head. I pick up my mug and take a sip of the coffee. Oh my God what kind of oil am I drinking? Swallow dammit, swallow! Show the kid he did a good job. I smile with brown tinged teeth.
    “Thanks, this is great.”
    He just smiles at me as I gulp the sludge down as fast as I can. Then, just when I think the torture is over, he pulls the coffee pot out of brewing machine. Oh man, this is not going to end well. Chase just smiles at me as he pours the coffee into my mug. I swear it looks like chocolate syrup as it fills my mug. Milk, I just need lots of milk. I pick up the milk and pour as much as I can until the liquid reaches the top of my double sized mug. Would you believe the color hasn’t changed? For the love of God, this is what my mom suffered when she ate my first attempt at chocolate chip cookies. They made charcoal look pale. Karma is a bitch indeed. Don’t gag dammit! Is he still smiling?
    I look up from my hell and see him sitting across from the table. He pours the milk into a bowl of cereal. He looks up at me and shows me his bright white teeth. Hell is worth every minute of burning if it means I get to see that smile for the rest of my life. Drink it up, Jazz. Drink every last drop of coffee until the pot is empty. Whatever it takes to show him you care. This is a bonding moment I don’t intend to fuck up.
    “You need to eat with that you know.”
    Don’t stop to think. Drink before your mind revolts! Chase looks at me as I continue to chug my coffee down.
    “Aunt Jazz, that’s hot you know. Doesn’t it burn?”
    Shit. Water, I need water and now! I place the mug down and quickly rush to the sink. Flip the handle and stick my head below the tap. Drink up the cold water. I hear giggling behind me. I back out from the wonderful cleansing water and look at the little man. He’s holding my mug and laughing.
    “You drank it.”
    “Of course I did. You made it for me.”
    “I put nine scoops of coffee in the maker.”
    My stomach lurches at the thought. Just smile and say something witty.
    “I didn’t notice.”
    Oh yeah, when the higher power was handing out the witty part of the brain, I was obviously absent.
    “Yes, you did.”
    I stare blankly at him, but he knows the real score.
    “I’m supposed to put three scoops in.” I watch as he pours out the sludge into the sink and cleans the pot. He moves around the kitchen with ease as he makes me a fresh pot of coffee.
    “Thank you.” He pushes the on button and hugs my leg. After maybe a second he pulls away and walks down the hall. I am so confused.
    “Stop thinking too much, Aunt Jazz. I don’t want to be late for school.”
    Did I mention to you he was a smart ass? He must have waited on the wit line. I grab my travel coffee mug and pour as much normal java as I can in there. I put some milk in it and I see the lighter shade of brown staring back at me. Perfect. Maybe that beeping was a blessing in disguise.
    “Aunt Jazz, I smell smoke. You’re still thinking too much.” He’s laughing again.
    “Ha, ha, funny little man. Get your stuff ready.” Walking to my bedroom, I hear him saying good morning to his fish. Those silly little blue neon like fish, he named them after all our dead family members and one