Off-the-books business, perhaps

As a detective solving the crossword clue “Off-the-books business, perhaps,” I first focused on the term “off-the-books” as a potential clue. This led me to consider illegal or illicit activities, such as money laundering or tax evasion, that might be conducted “off-the-books.” I then noticed the 9-letter length of the answer, which indicated that it might be a compound word or phrase. Considering words associated with illegal business activities, the term “cash” immediately came to mind. I then thought of the phrase “trade in cash” or “cash trade,” which seemed to fit the length of the answer and the context of the clue. Finally, I combined these two words to arrive at the solution, “CASHTRADE,” as a possible answer to the crossword clue. This process highlighted the importance of considering the context and length of the clue, as well as drawing on knowledge and associations related to the subject matter.