I had memorized names and routing numbers.

The missing paychecks I’d asked about? They had never been missing. They hadn’t been gambled away at a casino. They had been invested — laundered.

Dean had been aggressively laundering money for a mid-level narcotics distributor, one directly tied to Operation Blackline, a massive racketeering investigation Marcus’s tactical team had been building for over a year.

I hadn’t known the full, horrific truth of his criminal enterprise when I started digging. I just knew he was lying about our money. But I’d known enough to photograph what I found.

“Basement is secure, sir,” an agent called from the stairs. “We have the ledger. And a significant amount of wrapped product.”

Linda let out an ear-piercing shriek as two officers moved in and clicked cold steel handcuffs around Dean’s wrists.