Detective Ramirez didn’t smile. He held up a folded piece of heavy stock paper. “Mark Ellis, I have a warrant signed by a Supreme Court judge granting probable cause to search these premises for records related to fraud, forgery, unlawful conversion of marital assets, financial concealment, and now, based on your spontaneous utterance, judicial bribery.”
Vanessa pressed herself against the kitchen island, holding her hands up as if physically warding off the officers. “I didn’t know anything! I swear to God, he just told me to sign the LLC papers! He said it was for tax benefits!”
I looked at her, feeling absolutely zero pity. “You signed as the sole director of a shell company that absorbed half a million dollars in stolen equity. Ignorance is not a defense for money laundering, Vanessa.”
Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. She looked at Mark, waiting for him to save her.
