“I bring it up because land would be a good way to wash the money. Eventually, someone might ask where the money came from, but a good accountant can show it came from other sources—and I mean a really good accountant. That’s a bit over my head as well. You really should talk to Ryan. He might see something other people miss.”

“I have to run that through my boss—I can’t go outside without permission.”

“But Max and Sean don’t have the same problem.”

“Except now that we’re working together, I have to take responsibility. I worry about giving a clean case to the AUSA.”

“It puts you in a tough spot. But I also know you’ll tap into any and all resources to solve these crimes.”

He was right. And now that Ricky was coming home, Lucy didn’t have time to waste.

Chapter Twenty-one

Lucy asked to meet with her boss to go over the case. She dreaded the conversation, but she had to come clean about Nate. They’d discussed it and he agreed—she wouldn’t have said anything unless Nate was on board. But this had a direct impact on their case, and the fact that a cop may be party to a capital offense meant that the higher-ups needed to know.

Nate could be brought up to the Office of Professional Responsibility. He could be written up, suspended, demoted—but he was no longer a rookie, and that gave him a bit of protection. He took a sick day and was off the clock. The problem was the government had strict rules about federal employees traveling to Mexico and Central America even on their personal time.

Lucy also needed a warrant. She wanted Denise Albright’s signatory card from the bank, and an expert to compare it to the Kiefer authorization they had. If she could prove that Pollero was lying, she could compel him to talk to her. He might call for a lawyer, but eventually he would need to answer questions if she proved that the woman he said was Denise Albright wasn’t Denise Albright. That would make him criminally liable for the $3 million he helped steal from Henry Kiefer.

Lucy closed the door behind her. Rachel was typing on the computer. “One second, Lucy … Okay. Done. You have a breakthrough?”

“Yes. I may need a warrant, but let me lay it out for you.”

“I’m all yours.”

Talking to Dillon had helped Lucy create a logical timeline, so she could clearly outline her theory that the bank manager had lied three years ago that Denise Albright had come to the bank to change the authorization on Kiefer’s account, that there was no physical evidence except for his word that she was there, and that the image he provided was indistinct, at best.

“What is his motive? Are you accusing him of killing the Albright family as well?”