Whack The Mole (Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective 2)

“You didn’t let me finish. I could…deliver muffins. Like you did.”

“You’re not going to be delivering muffins. To anyone,” he adds stubbornly.

I fold my hands demurely on my lap. “Okay. You win. I’ll just be a good girl and leave everything to the professionals.”

Travis moans. I’m sure he’s ruing the day he first used that expression on me. “The last time you said that you ended up with a psycho trying to kill you in your own kitchen. Okay. You win. But you have to promise me you’ll keep what I tell you confidential. You can’t tell anyone. Not your brother. Not Sarah. Not even Will.”

I make an X over my chest with my finger. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come down to that,” he mutters.

I lean forward eagerly.

“Five years ago, the feds planted a mole by the name of Joey Frizzone in the Scarlotti family organization. They run one of the oldest and largest crime syndicates in Chicago.”

“A mole? That’s what, like a spy?”

Travis nods. “A few weeks ago the feds received an anonymous tip that Joey had been compromised, so they had to get him out. He’s in hiding until he can testify. The trial is in Chicago in two weeks. After that, they’ll put Joey in witness protection. Right now, our goal is to keep him alive so he can put Vito Scarlotti away for good.”

“Holy wow.”

“That’s one way to put it. The Weasel is going to be pretty spooked when he hears what happened to Ken Cameron.”

“The weasel?”

“It’s the nickname the feds gave Joey.”

“Who else knows all this?”

“Here in town? Just Zeke, Rusty and me. And now you.”

“No other cops?”

“Billings, she’s the FBI agent in charge, only wanted a few cops aware of the situation. In case the feds need police back up.”

“What do you think happened to Ken Cameron?”

“I think he got a bullet between the eyes.”

“Seriously.”

“I think someone has a big mouth,” Travis says quietly. The implication being that someone ratted Joey out.

“So someone in the FBI sold The Weasel out to the mob? Do you think they’ll move him to another location?”

“Not my call. But moving him might be exactly what someone wants. Until the feds figure out who killed Cameron, they’re probably better leaving Joey where he is.”

I shudder. “The whole thing sounds dangerous.”

“Exactly. Which is why you’re going to pretend you don’t know anything, didn’t see anything and most importantly, you aren’t going to do anything.”

“Sure, sure, I got it.”

“Repeat it, so I know it’s sunk in.”

I roll my eyes. “I know nothing. I see nothing. And I’ll do nothing.”

“You have to act completely normal.”