Chapter 7 - The Raid
Two days later, the hammer fell.
I was at the JAG headquarters, reviewing a court-martial file, when my phone rang. It was an agent from the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.
“Commander Thorne,” the agent said. “Just wanted to give you a professional courtesy heads-up. We just executed a search warrant at Bea’s Boutique and Beatrice Thorne’s private residence.”
“I appreciate the update, Agent,” I said. “Did she cooperate?”
“She threw a Ming vase at one of my deputies,” the agent chuckled. “She’s currently in federal holding, being processed for money laundering, tax evasion, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The mistress, Jessica, actually showed up during the raid.”
“Let me guess,” I smiled. “Jessica threw Beatrice under the bus.”
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“Like an Olympic shot-putter,” the agent confirmed. “Jessica handed us Beatrice's private accounting books in exchange for immunity regarding the fraudulent loans. Turns out, Beatrice was the one encouraging Lucas to take out loans in Jessica’s name to fund the boutique. It’s a mess.”
I hung up the phone and looked out my office window at the naval ships docked in the bay. Lucas had spent his life lying to everyone. In the end, his lies had acted as a perfectly designed bomb, blowing up the very people he had conspired with.
