She pointed to a separate subfolder labeled *Local_Regulatory_Liabilities*.

“What is that?” I asked.

“It’s a ledger of payoffs,” she said. “City building inspectors, health department officials, zoning board members.”

She scrolled down the list of names.

My heart stopped when I saw a familiar address listed next to a monthly payment entry.

It was the address of my bakery, *The Daily Loaf*.

“Why is my bakery on this list?” I whispered.

“They’ve been paying off the chief building inspector for our district,” Nora said.

“To do what?” I asked.

“To find violations,” she said. “Look at the notes column.”

I leaned closer, squinting at the tiny font.

*Target closed for structural non-compliance upon request,* the note read.

“He’s going to shut me down,” I said.

“He can do it with one phone call,” Nora said. “If you can’t run your business, you can’t afford Clara’s medical bills or a lawyer.”

The man with the umbrella turned his head toward our car.

He took two steps in our direction.

His face was shadowed beneath the wide brim of his hat, but I could see the pale line of his jaw.