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1
LONDON
Iwas a woman on a mission.
I strode down the New Orleans sidewalk, my boots clicking on the concrete. The young agent beside me half jogged to keep up.
“Are you sure this is a good idea, Agent Coleman?” FBI agent Amy Chen pushed some of her straight, black hair off her face. “I mean, we have no cause. No warrants. He doesn’t have to show us anything if he doesn’t want to.”
“It’s going to be fine,” I said. “This is just a shot across the bow.”
The mid-size office tower rose above us, all gleaming glass. It was much taller than the surrounding warehouse buildings of the Warehouse District in New Orleans. The tower was more pointed at the top, and some of the glass was tinted red, making it look like a flame. It was called Ignis Tower, so it was appropriate.
“Agent Coleman, I know that you’re awesome at your job.”
I was very good at my job. One of the youngest Treasury Agents to close some of the largest financial crimes cases in the country. “I’ve told you to call me London.”
I liked Amy. She was Chinese-American, with a rapier-sharp mind, and a tiny, compact body. She regularly took down agents twice her size in the training gym.
Amy nodded. “London. Our joint task force is lucky to have you. Ever since we arrested that lawyer who gave us clues to the money laundering going on here in New Orleans, you’ve been a driving force in our investigation.”
Yes, when the FBI had arrested a lawyer several months back, she’d given them intel into a huge money laundering scheme running in the city. I suspected the money was flowing to the drug cartels, but we still had no hard evidence. Whoever was behind it, they had to be stopped.
After several weeks of investigation, we had no proof, no arrests, not much at all. Frustration cut through me.
But one name kept popping up.
Kavner Fury.
A burn seared in my belly. I was sure New Orleans’ favorite billionaire was dirty. His name, and that of his company, Ignis Inc., kept appearing in my investigation, but I hadn’t been able to prove anything, yet.
Money was being laundered in New Orleans. My jaw tightened. I was going to stop it.
“London,” Amy continued. “Kavner Fury is a well-known New Orleans businessman. He’s well-connected and—”
“In the perfect position to launder money?”
Amy huffed out a breath. “He makes massive donations to the local community.”
“That could just be a front.” I’d seen it before. The pious family man, pillar of the community, who behind closed doors broke the law.
“Or he could just be a successful businessman. What is it about him that sets you off?”
“Experience.” I knew the type—wealthy, handsome, powerful. The kind of man who thought he could get away with anything. My stomach curdled. I’d seen it firsthand. I’d watched my father get sucked into the world of glitz and wealth, and get destroyed. Seduced by the heady promises of a man like Kavner Fury.
I shook those thoughts off and headed for the gleaming glass doors that led into Ignis Tower.
Amy grabbed my arm. “London, you need to tread carefully. The Fury brothers are well-liked around here.”
The Fury brothers were well known in New Orleans. Infamous.
Five brothers by choice who were all rich and successful. They owned a prime chunk of the Warehouse District, and had a long list of businesses they owned: nightclubs, restaurants, a gym, and a security company. And Kavner Fury was the CEO of Ignis Inc.—a sprawling business empire that included property, resorts, shipping, and a slew of other businesses.
I’d met Fury a few times. I’d questioned him once on his knowledge of shipping companies at the local port. The man had his long fingers in a lot of pies. He owned, or invested in, a lot of local businesses, which would be perfect for laundering dirty money for the cartels.
“What I need is to do my job,” I said quietly. “Whether someone is rich or powerful makes no difference to me.” I patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry. If there’s any blowback, I’ll shoulder it.”
Amy pulled a face but nodded. I turned and stepped inside.
