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“It does all happen through the bank where Haxton is a director. Probably keeps two sets of books to cover it up.”
Braden pondered this new information before shaking his head. “This sounds like a complicated rig, much too complicated for Haxton. The man’s afraid of his own shadow. It’s hard to imagine him as the head of a criminal scheme like this, much less murdering Roger Penwith—because right now I’m going to assume that Penwith was starting to figure this out, and that’s what got him murdered.”
“I agree on both counts. I know Haxton, and I’m not impressed. He holds his position because his father was one of the original founders of the bank. So, if it’s him, I suspect he’s got an accomplice, and possibly more than one.”
Braden frowned. “Mrs. Girvin? She would be a likely candidate, but for the fact that Samantha trusts her.”
“I don’t know. But even if she was involved, it’s unlikely that the two of them could manage something this big. My gut tells me someone else is behind this—someone who could run very good interference for them.”
“Another board member?”
“Maybe, but that brings me to my next point. Or, rather, to the next question that needs to be asked.”
Braden mentally flipped back through their conversation. “Where are the extra funds coming from in the first place?”
“On the nose, little brother. Someone is acquiring funds, and is using the foundation to move them in increasing numbers.”
Braden’s mind caught on a thread and pulled it. “Do these increases parallel the disappearances of the children, by any chance?”
Logan frowned for a few moments, as if reviewing the information in his head. “Actually, yes.”
Braden felt a piece of the puzzle settle into place with the satisfyingsnickthat told him he was on the right track. “That’s the connection. Someone is kidnapping or recruiting the children into their gang, using them for the kind of thefts where children are helpful, andthenutilizing the foundation to both hide and move the proceeds. And because the jobs are getting bigger over time, they require more resources.”
Logan blew out a breath. “If that’s true, that is one hell of a rig.”
“Yes, but it feels right to me. And if Roger Penwith had discovered this, whoever was running the rig would be well motivated to kill him.”
It was coming together with the same degree of confidence he felt when he’d made a difficult diagnosis. Random pieces of evidence suddenly fell into place, like a mathematical equation that finally made sense.
Logan grimaced. “This suggests a very talented and dangerous gang at work.”
“That was Samantha’s conclusion some weeks ago. And that brings us to the Hanging Judge. Any news?”
“Yes, and it fits with your hypothesis. Stevens, my fellow who’s been trying to infiltrate the place, is convinced it’s a flash house with a new gang. He’s made a few visits during the day, putting it about that he was looking for work from the occasional break-in or snatch and grab.”
“Any response?”
“Yes. A few regulars told Stevens that he was to cease visits to the Hanging Judge, or they would stop his claret,” Logan dryly replied.
“They threatened to kill him?”
“They did.”
“Seems rather brash, not to mention foolhardy.”
Logan shrugged. “According to Stevens, they didn’t even bother to tell him to keep quiet about it. Just said that if he showed up anywhere near the place again, he’d end up with a slit throat.”
Braden pondered that information. “That suggests they feel secure in their position. That no one would dare take them on.”
“Because someone with power and influence is protecting them?”
“Someone on the inside, who stands to profit.”
“Again, that brings us back to Haxton,” Logan said. “But he’s a well-to-do banker. Why would he get involved in something like this?”
“Good question.” Braden intended to ask Haxton, sooner rather than later.
“I’ll tell you something else,” Logan said. “This group of bastards is definitely getting bolder. My men keeping watch at the Hanging Judge have had a few close calls with some very unsavory characters. I’ve pulled them back a bit, just to be safe.”
