Page 92 of Cautious Love

I nod and wave my hand for her to let him in.

He slips in, wearing his uniform, and Daisy closes the door behind her.

Will drops into a seat, and I can see the exhaustion written all over his face.

Luke and I look at each other before sitting down.

Will rubs a hand over his face and takes his hat off, placing it on his knee. “How’s it going, boss?” he asks.

“I think we’re the ones who should be asking you that.”

Will huffs, but there’s not an ounce of amusement in it. “I’ve barely slept, but I’ve learned a lot.”

“First, do you think Kensington or anyone suspects anything? Is your cover intact?” I ask him.

He sits there for a moment, looking over my shoulder, and I definitely don’t like how long it takes for him to give me an answer.

“I’ll admit it was dicey for a minute, but he was testing me. He knows I’m still a cop, but I really sold the whole, ‘not happy with my job’ thing. So, no, I don’t think he suspects anything, and my cover is intact.”

“That’s comforting. Tell us what you learned.”

Will explains that he saw pieces of the drug operation and the people who work for the Kensingtons. He doesn’t know what their expansion looks like because he was never in the room for those conversations, but something is going to happen and soon because Senior is on edge. Then he explains how he figured out how they are making things look in the books to protect themselves from the IRS, like claiming they have and sell more cattle than they actually do which adds fraud to the RICO case.

Kate has been a piece of work and making everything more difficult, but Kensington Sr. likes that she’s with him, so he’s put up with it.

“I saved the best for last. I overheard talk about a really large delivery they’re going to make. Typically, they move small and put it with things like meat. But that mobster up in Chicago clearly wants more and fast, so they’re making the biggest shipment they’ve ever had.”

“That’s risky,” Luke mumbles.

“I thought so too, but Kensington isn’t stupid. They are splitting the shipment into different vehicles, but that’s all I know so far,” Will says.

“That should be more than enough for a full criminal RICO case,” Luke says.

I nod, rubbing my chin. “Have they mentioned timelines or production?” I ask Will.

He grimaces and shakes his head. “No, they haven’t. They keep those conversations pretty tight-lipped. The only reason I saw the drug op was because I got Kate to show me, but I think they are going to move it soon. She indicated that they were almost done cooking.”

“And you’re sure no one suspects you?” I ask.

“Yeah, I mean I’m a cop with this as a side job, which is sort of obvious. They don’t totally trust me yet,” Will says.

This is becoming more than we can handle, and it might be time to call in the DEA. In order for us to catch that shipment, we would have to know the exact day they’re planning to move. Which will give Will the opportunity to get out of there or doesn’t break his cover.

“How did you get this? This information seems like inner-circle kind of stuff,” Luke says.

Will winces. “I … was with Kate in the other room. I could hear them. Let’s put it that way.”

I frown. “Will, under no circumstances should you be doing anything of that nature for this case.”

He holds up a hand. “I’m not, but it definitely helps sell that I’m smitten with Kate, so it’s fine. But do you think the town is starting to notice me with her?” Will asks.

Luke puffs out a breath and groans. “Maybe I feel like people noticed at Perry’s, but it will probably be town gossip for a bit.”

“Any longer, though, and that gossip might change,” I mumble. We’re treading on thin ice with limited time.

“What’s the next step, boss? This is getting more complicated the deeper we get.” Luke says.

“It is, but Will, I have another question.”