“Victoria’s best friend was Denise Albright,” Max said. “They were friends in college. Victoria was killed the night after Denise’s bones were found. Everyone believed Albright left the country to avoid prosecution because she embezzled three million from her employer. I think she was killed because she found out what was going on with Monroe. She was an accountant. Maybe she found evidence of the illegal acts. Maybe she wanted to do the right thing and was killed for it.”

“You’re stretching. And even if it’s true, no judge is going to give you a warrant because of a coincidence.”

“Lucy said the same thing.”

“Smart woman. I see what you’re getting at, Max—I love the way your mind works. But there’s just not enough to go on.” Ryan paused, then said, “If you are right—”

“I am right.”

“—then you have to be doubly careful. Because you’re investigating something no one else is investigating. If these people are as ruthless as they appear, then they’re not going to think twice about going after a reporter.”

“I have Sean.”

“And I respect Sean’s skills, but he could end up dead, too. Don’t do anything to get dead, Max.”

“I am being cautious, Ryan, but this is what I do. I’m not going to back down just because there’s a little heat.”

“I know, and I love you for it, but I still worry.” He paused, then said, “Remember Al Capone?”

“I didn’t know him personally,” Max said snidely.

Ryan smiled. “He was guilty of a multitude of crimes, but we couldn’t get him because either he killed witnesses or they were too scared to talk. He killed or had killed dozens of people, no evidence.”

“And Eliot Ness got him on tax evasion.”

“This might be a reverse situation. In the twenty-first century, law enforcement is much better at evidence collection and criminals are much better at hiding white collar crimes. We have DNA, we have security cameras, we have modern technology. Following the paper trail and proving that Monroe and his cohorts are not only running an illegal gambling operation but laundering their illegal profits through land transactions is possible, but it’s not likely and would take months, if not years. It’s in fact extremely difficult, not just because of the statute of limitations—depending on how long this has been going on—but also because he has a legitimate business and makes a good income in that legitimate business. And his wife is a lawyer, which is going to make any AUSA think twice about pursuing it without something tangible.”

“So you’re saying, catch him on the murder charge,” Sean said.

“Exactly.”

“Which is the one thing I can’t do,” Max said, “because I’m not a cop.”

“This might be the time for the FBI to bring the scenario to SAPD and see what they think.”