At the station, my father sat in the viewing room beside an empty interrogation room. Julian opened the encrypted email on a laptop. One audio attachment waited on the screen.
“Read these first.” Julian turned the laptop around. “We suspected a long-term laundering arrangement. These transfers began recently, and they escalated fast.”
The records showed a series of high-value transfers made within forty-eight hours. The first resembled ordinary charity business. Every transfer after it was larger, rushed through a newer account.
Julian tapped a name on the transaction list. “Black market gambling debt. They called it in and gave her two days to pay an amount she didn’t have.”
Chloe had lost money on a bet. She put my life against the balance.
“She made a partial payment from the chari
