There. Pushed far back against the wall, nestled in the corner where the shadows were deepest. A black duffel bag I had never seen before.

My hand trembled slightly as I reached out. I hooked a finger through the strap and pulled. It was heavy. Heavier than clothes. The zipper was unlocked. I pulled it open.

Plastic-wrapped bricks. Dozens of them.

White powder was visible through the clear, heavy-duty packaging. My chemistry background kicked in before my panic did. I didn’t just see “drugs.” I saw the distinctive crystal structure, the texture.

Methamphetamine.

And not user quantities. This was distribution weight. There had to be twenty pounds here. Enough to put me away for twenty years. Enough to ensure I never saw the outside of a cell again.

Jesus Christ.