Page 195 of Sins of Innocence

"It has been six years since we had to pass sentence on a traitor. Which shows that while we are not a perfect organization, we are loyal to one another. Except when we aren't." He gives Kenneth a look of pure disgust, shakes his head and says, "Mick."

"What you're about to hear is Kenneth Shaughnessy in his own words," Mick tells the room in flat tones, no preamble.

The recording plays through the speakers, Kenneth's voice filling the gym. Familiar to dozens of men in this room, the voice of a man they've sat across from at dinner and stood beside at funerals. The voice of a man who smiled at Brogan's face while he made calls like this one behind his back.

Kenneth: Don't worry. I'll get you the evidence you need to get a conviction.

Agent Fisk: That's what you said six years ago, but Áine Gallagher didn't know anything.

Kenneth: Áine is a tool. She'll be useful now.

Agent Fisk: You told me she could implicate Mick in her husband's murder.

Kenneth: I was wrong.

I wonder if everyone else can hear the lie in Kenneth's voice, the fact he'd never intended Áine to become a federal witness?

Agent Fisk: You better not be wrong now. I've done a lot for you, Ken. You owe me.

Kenneth: Don't worry. Once I'm boss, your career is going to rise right along with your bank account.

The recording cuts off there. There was a lot more incriminating shit, but that's all the mob needs to hear.

Kenneth was in the process of ratting on Mick Fitgerald and his plans included becoming boss, not underboss like he'd been telling his cronies.

When it ends, Mick taps something on his laptop and the lighting in the room dims. Then the giant screen behind the stage comes on, a picture of Kenneth meeting with Agent Fisk.

Mick lists Kenneth's traitorous actions, revealing the evidence for each as he goes along.

When he plays the recording of a call he had with the leader of the Swedish mafia that reveals Kenneth's plans to have Brogan killed in exchange for access to the Whisper gun technology, hostility rolls in a wave throughout the room.

Mick lets the room settle itself. "Vanta technology has remained secure for six years. Kenneth planned to hand it over in exchange for murdering our boss."

Kenneth laughs, but it comes out wrong. Too high. "Listen to him. Listen to how proud he is. He thinks that weapon belongs to him."

"It belongs to the mob and currently accounts for 42% of our income from weapons dealing," Mick says. "You were willing to give that up to hire a hitter."

Kenneth's face goes red.

Mick taps the laptop.

The screen changes to ledgers. Paper pages photographed under bright light. Business registry filings. Bank accounts. Vendor records. Arrows and highlighted lines connect shell companies.

Seeing Áine's work on that screen fills me with pride.

My wife did this. Kenneth used those books to hide money and the sale of humans. Áine pulled the threads loose one number at a time.

Mick says, "When the businesses Kenneth oversaw for Shaughnessy Corp transferred to Wraith's leadership, his wife, Áine Veseli began digitizing the paper financial records. She identified irregular vendor payments, duplicate invoices and accounts tied to businesses that do not provide the services listed."

Men shift restlessly. Shaughnessy Corp companies are the legit side of our business. We don't use them to launder money. We take already laundered money and invest it in them to make bigger profits.

Mick continues, "Those irregularities led McLaren to registry filings connected to Hollow Point Kings associates. Kenneth Shaughnessy allowed the gang to use Shaughnessy Corp company accounts to launder payments from human trafficking."

A low voice in the room says, "Holy hell."

Mick does not pause. "The Hollow Point Kings have been running women and girls through a pipeline inside Queens for two years. Kenneth Shaughnessy knew it. He profited from it."

Mick details the plan to sell my daughter through this pipeline. I can't help the growl that erupts from my throat when Sadie's name is mentioned.