Cut and Run (Lucy Kincaid #16) - Allison Brennan Page 0,90
Mills financial records through Victoria’s father, who asked Max to get involved in the first place.”
“It’s a tightrope, Lucy.”
“I know.”
“Keep me informed.”
“I will.”
She couldn’t believe it was that easy. She stood up.
“Lucy, did you think I wouldn’t notice that you slipped into the conversation that Nate went to Mexico without authorization or approval?”
She sat back down.
“He took sick time.”
“It’s vacation time, and I don’t know where he went, understand? But this could blow up in our faces.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Put together the information for the warrant and I’ll expedite it, you’ll have it by the morning. I don’t have anyone available on the squad. Laura Williams is done with her part of the trial, take her with you—I’ll talk to Daphne and also ask for two of her agents to back you up.”
“Okay. Thank you, Rachel.”
“Keep tabs on Nate, I want him back in one piece.”
“So do I.”
Lucy ran back to her desk to put together the information for the warrant, relieved and worried.
That was too easy.
Chapter Twenty-two
WEDNESDAY EVENING
Over Skype, Max went through everything she and Sean had learned with Ryan—the theory of illegal gambling going back to college, the accusations of blackmail, the land deals, money laundering. As she spoke, she knew she was right about the big picture, that Harrison Monroe was in the middle of a massive criminal conspiracy and everyone around him was involved in one capacity or another.
It would be extremely difficult to prove it. She had no hard evidence, only theories based on circumstantial evidence.
Sean sat next to her and interjected when he had something to add. Ryan listened, asked questions, took notes.
“As far as a criminal case, the FBI doesn’t have an active investigation into Harrison Monroe—I checked. So if we were going to start an investigation, it would take months to build it. That’s going to have to be done at the local level. Based on what you have here, you might be able to get someone to look, but they won’t be getting a warrant for any of the information you need—not without evidence of criminal misconduct. And on the surface, there is none.”
Max knew he was right, but she didn’t want to hear it. She had hoped for some sort of crumb, something that excited Ryan so that he would dig deeper using the resources at his disposal.
Mostly, she didn’t want to hear it because she didn’t want to stay in San Antonio for the next few months uncovering that piece of evidence to give the FBI something to go after. If she was going to spend all that time and energy, she would prove it and produce a Maximum Exposure show—then turn over the evidence to the FBI.
And she didn’t want to be away from Eve and Ryan that long.
“I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” Ryan said. “You look really pissed.”
“What if we convince Simon or Mitch to talk?” Max said.
“Assuming that one of them is privy to crimes and is willing to talk even though they may be prosecuted, all the information they provide would need to be verified. It might be enough for a warrant for financial information and if it’s a felony would most likely open the investigation, but it would still take time to build a case against Monroe. If he’s guilty of the crimes you believe he is, then he’s been evading authorities for more than two decades. Any crime he committed in college, short of murder, the statute of limitations is long up. Your college informant isn’t going to help.”
“He clued us in on how Monroe operated then, and we’re using that to figure out his operation now.”
Sean said, “I spoke with a friend of mine at SAPD off the record. She works Vice and knows most of the illegal gaming operations in the area. One operation fits better than others.”
“Why?”
“There’s been no sign that Monroe is involved in the sex trade. My contact would have at least heard his name, and she hadn’t. But there’s a high-end, high-roller underground casino. They ostensibly raise money for charity, but it’s a well-known secret that it’s actually illegal gaming. They don’t run prostitutes—though some of the high-end call girls work the club. I could get in, but Monroe’s people have seen me.”
“And what would you learn? If it’s a front, they’re not going to let anyone see the real operation.”
“I count cards.”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“It’s not a crime, it’s just against casino rules.”