23. Ledger
Ledger
I’m late to work, and I’ve never been happier about it. But today was not the day I should be late.
“Luke, my office!” I yell, getting rid of the smile on my face.
Luke hurries in and closes the door behind him.
“Have you heard anything? I haven’t.”
He shakes his head and sits down. “I figured he would be here by now,” he says.
My stomach twists, and my good mood flies away like dust on the wind. “If he’s not here by eight this morning, call him.”
Luke nods and stands to leave, then Daisy knocks on the door. “Sheriff? Will is here,” she says with wide eyes.
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.”
“Shoot.”
“Did Kensington Sr. send anyone to do something to my house?”
He frowns. “I don’t believe so. Why?”
“We think Grey vandalized his house,” Luke answers for me.
“Oh shit, no, I don’t think you’re really on Senior’s radar right now. I think he just likes having someone close to the force in case you are looking into him, which you’re not, and I assured him of.”
I rub my chin. “No, I’m not. But I’m looking for Grey, though.”
“Yeah, about him. He’s starting to take over for Kensington Sr. He’s doing a lot more than we originally suspected.”
“I don’t know how because he doesn’t come across as intelligent,” Luke mumbles.
“Shiloh says he’s manipulative and plays dumb intentionally.”
They both stare at me, and I lift a shoulder.
“Interesting,” Will says and glances at Luke. “In any case, I don’t believe Kensington sent him. It sounds like he did that all on his own. I have one more thing.”
“I know you were supposed to reinstate me today, but I have a better idea,” Will says.
“Here we go,” Luke sighs.
“I need you to fire me,” Will says.
“Why in the world would I do that?” I ask him.
“I don’t mean actually fire me. I mean fire me so the Kensingtons know I’m all in with them,” Will says.
“And you think they’ll believe you? Will, your record is spotless, and then you lose your connection to the station,” I tell him.
“Yeah, so we need to mess it up, and I can tell them Luke is my connection, which gives me an excuse to talk to him.”
I frown. “How are you going to go about messing up your record?” I ask.
He makes a face and grits his teeth. “I need to steal their file, obviously it won’t be the full file, mostly old stuff, but it could establish solid trust.”
I huff. “Fat chance.”
Will sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “It’s the only way I can think of to speed this up, get what we need, and be done making out with Kate Kensington,” he sighs.
Luke huffs. “You were enjoying it a week ago.”
Will shoots him a glare and comes back to me. “I have to admit, I thought I was ready for this, but it’s uh … harder than I anticipated and I really don’t want to die because the bastard called my bluff.”
He’s right. We have to cover Will in every direction, and proving himself by stealing their file should do that. “Fine, here’s the key. Get what you need and bring it back.”
Will takes the key and leaves my office.
“Are you sure about this?” Luke asks.
I sigh, rubbing my face. I need a nap. I can’t think straight. “No, I’m not, but he’s in, and if we pull him out, it will look even worse. We need more evidence, and Will can get it. You need to keep up surveillance the best you can. Let me know if you need more help.”
He nods.
Will comes back into the office with a black gym bag in his hand and returns the key.
“Your check-in will be at Perry’s on Friday nights. Luke will happen to be there. Be careful, you’re fired, and we need a little more time to get ducks in a row,” I tell him.
He nods. “Alright, boys, I’ll see you when I see you.”
I’ve never been undercover, never had to be.
But I know other guys from other forces who have, and it’s not easy, you have to separate yourself from what you know is true.
You have to lean into the darker side of yourself that no one intends to show.
It’s an exhausting form of mental gymnastics, but you can’t let your guard down at the same time.
“I’m going to dig deeper into financials, and I’ll coordinate with the DEA to get them before the shipment. They can’t cross state lines.”
We sit there silently for a moment, both overwhelmed by what we need to do, but Shiloh is at the front of my mind.
“My next task is to track Grey down and bring him in. We need to get him off the street. I’m … worried about Shiloh.”
“Alright, let’s go get him then,” Luke says leading the way.
He will do the arresting, but I’ll get to watch and that lightens the mood pretty quick.
This is all going to work out. It has to.
Driving to Grey’s house, I slow down, observing. Hoping I see movement, praying for my moment. But his truck is gone, and it doesn’t look like anyone is home.
I stand on the sidewalk while Luke knocks on the door. He waits and knocks again, nothing. “I don’t think anyone is home,” Luke says.
I need to go talk to a certain neighbor who might know something. “Give me a minute,” I yell.
Sighing, I walk across the street to Ms. Maise’s house.
She opens the door before I have a chance to knock and steps to the side letting me in.
“Can I get you a cup of coffee, Sheriff?” she asks.
“Uh, sure but this won’t take long Ms. Maisie.”
She scoots to her kitchen and comes back with a hot cup of coffee. I’m exhausted, but I can’t be this evening so I drink it happily.
Ms. Maisie gestures for me to sit on the sofa and she drops into her chair across from me.
“What can I help you with?” she asks.
I take another long sip. I’m afraid to ask her this for fear it will put her in danger, but it’s worth asking.
“Ms. Maise, I’m about to ask you something that … I can’t guarantee won’t have some kind of blowback.”
She makes a face and I gestures for me to continue.
“Alright then, if anyone asks I was following up regarding the vandalism. Have you seen him recently?”
She takes a sip of her own coffee and tilts her head trying to recall.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’ve seen him for a couple days. He tore out of his driveway in that silly truck about three days ago and I haven’t seen him since.”
I toss back the rest of my coffee and stand. “Thank you for your time. If you see anything or anyone, will you give me a call? This is my direct number.” I hand her the card with my cell written on the back.
“Not a problem, happy to help,” she says.
“Thank you but please, don’t do anything just call me.”
Ms. Maise huffs. “Son, I’ve been around, and up and down the block more times than I can count before you were born. Don’t you worry about me.”
I hold out my hand, and she takes it. “Thank you for the coffee.”
“Not a problem, you take care.”
I tip my hat and let myself out.
“He’s gone,” I mutter to Luke.
He nods and leaves as I look up and down the street.
The rest of the street is quiet, other than some kids playing a few houses down. For the sake of this town, I hope it stays that way, though in my gut, I know it won’t.