Page 133 of Cautious Love

She rolls her eyes refusing to meet mine.

“Fine,” she says and shoves the dog into my arms.

“Have a wonderful day, honey.”

She purses her lips and flings the door open, stomping back into the diner.

After all of this is over we’re going to have some things to talk about. But I love that woman, fire and all. Hopefully one day she’ll see it too.

Getting back to the station with Dozer in tow. I put his kennel in my office and let him out to get a drink.

“Is that a puppy!” Daisy squeals, bringing me a fresh cup of coffee.

“Yeah, he was a stray. We rescued him.”

“So he’s not a new police dog?” she asks.

“No, Daisy,” I sigh.

“Can I?”

I nod. “Sure, and take him out in an hour or so so he doesn’t pee all over the carpet.”

“Okay!” Daisy says, playing with him.

He gnaws on her finger and lifts his little paw on her hand.

“Daisy, I have work to do. Can you take him?” I ask her.

She nods and grabs him scurrying out of my office.

Luke comes in and closes the door. “Are we ready?” he asks.

“Yeah, I think so. We’re waiting for him to show up, hopefully he followed my instructions, or we’re sunk,” I mutter.

I’ve been speaking to the DEA about how they have to come into Paxton because if they come in with all their labeled SUVs and DEA jackets, it will tip off the Kensingtons. Gossip is enemy number one in this town, and it would get back to them and everyone else in this town, and we’ll fumble the biggest case this town has ever seen.

There still is no sign of Grey. I’ve had patrols going over to his side of town. All his normal haunts and I’ve even had them drive by his supposed friends. But no one has seen a thing, and if his people know where he is, they certainly aren’t going to tell us. Grey is a loose thread I need to snip.

“Ledger, you uh, you have a visitor,” Daisy says with Dozer under her arm.

A man, average height, fit, with dark hair closely cropped to his head steps into my office. The way he carries himself looks like he used to be a military man.

“Daisy can you get our guest a cup of coffee please?”

She nods and sets Dozer on the floor before closing the door.

“Sheriff. I’m Supervisory Special Agent Lawrence Beckett. The SAC sent me to run this op. Victor told me you have been in contact.” I shake his hand and gesture to Luke. “This is Lieutenant Luke Garrison. He and his partner Will are heading up this investigation.”

He nods and shakes Luke’s hand, and I offer Lawrence a seat.

“I’m aware of the sensitive nature of this so we’re all coming in plain clothes, and unmarked various vehicles. Hell, I drove a mini van in today.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that. This town has eyes, and normally that’s a good thing, but for our purposes, I can promise you it would backfire spectacularly.”

“Got it. And if anyone asks, the county sent me in to check up on the department,” Lawrence says.

“No problem, my people won’t talk.”