Hold 'Em Hostage

Book excerpt: Belinda “Bee Cool” Cooley is back in Vegas for the World Series of Poker. Bee’s always played to win, but some sinister stranger has decided she needs an extra incentive. He’s kidnapped Bee’s goddaughter and has threatened to kill her if Bee doesn’t win the WSOP and hand over the pot: “Remember: If you bust out, so does she.” Toss in a bloody knife left on the poker table, a mysterious tattooed tough guy, a dead man floating in a lagoon, religious right protestors outside the casino, suspicious cops, and her brother Ben acting uncharacteristically serious, and Bee’s having a little trouble getting her game on. Time is running out as the Texas Hold ’Em champ uses all her sleuthing skills to track down the kidnapper—and all her poker prowess to go the distance.