The Shadow Tycoon
Copyright© 2026 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 19
The Internal Revenue Service, under the broader framework of the Federal Reserve, had been among the earliest agencies to employ photosensitive materials in investigative work. It sounded surprising, but it was the truth.
Ever since mercury lamps had been invented, photosensitive compounds and their properties had been widely used in printing and dyeing industries. The IRS and the United States Mint also made extensive use of these materials, to the point that people often never realized the banknotes and coins in their hands had already been marked in subtle ways.
Under ultraviolet light, those marks would reveal themselves completely.
William was satisfied. There were no markings on this batch of coins, which meant no one was targeting him, at least not yet.
He had considered this possibility carefully, thinking from the other side’s perspective. If he were the IRS, trying to catch someone like himself, what would be the most effective method?
The answer was simple. Take a batch of coins, officially authorized through the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the local judicial system, “tag” them with invisible markers, then funnel them into William’s hands through controlled channels. From there, they would inevitably flow into Mr. Fox’s laundromat.
At that point, neither William nor Mr. Fox would be able to explain why so many marked coins had appeared in their possession. All it would take was a small adjustment to the timeline of key evidence, and the entire case would snap into place.
A complete chain of evidence. One sweep, and everyone would be taken down.
Simple, direct, effective. Exactly the kind of method William himself favored.
Whether it was someone like “him,” a high school graduate just stepping into society, or someone like Mr. Fox, who had some experience but little real sophistication, neither could compete with the machinery of technological enforcement.
They would never realize the money in their hands was marked, not until they were standing in court, wondering how they had fallen.
William switched off the ultraviolet lamp, scratched his head, then poured the coins into another metal container. He picked up a small bucket and doused them with cleaning solution.
Some markings appeared under ultraviolet light. Others required different methods to reveal themselves. But removing them was not complicated. Chemical cleaning agents would do the job.
Whether the markings existed or not, whether the cleaning was strictly necessary or not, William did not consider this excessive caution.
Every transaction that carried even the slightest chance of ending in a life sentence demanded caution, excessive caution.
Once he was done, he scooped some of the coins onto a mesh tray to let them dry. He still had a few things left to handle. For example, he needed a coin sorter.
If this was going to remain a “legal” business that merely exploited gaps in the law, then it needed to look the part. Sorting coins by denomination would add a layer of legitimacy.
Sabine City had no shortage of blacksmith shops. To some people, that might seem out of place in a modern city, something belonging to another age, but in reality, every city had them, and they did decent business.
Partly because, in any developed society, there would always be those who believed handcrafted metal goods were superior to machine-made ones, that a craftsman’s “spirit” somehow made the difference.
Partly because not everyone could afford custom molds for production. Many only needed a single piece, not mass output. That alone ensured blacksmiths would continue to exist.
There were several such shops near William’s warehouse office. Positioned just outside the city center, they avoided scrutiny from environmental authorities while saving significantly on rent.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.