"If people are going to be cooking the books, you're in trouble"

This quote by Don Nickles is describing the practice of accounting scams, which is when a company or private falsifies financial records in order to trick financiers or other stakeholders. To put it simply, they are "preparing the books". The quote is cautioning that if this kind of scams is taking place, then the company or individual remains in serious trouble. This kind of scams is prohibited and can lead to major effects, including fines, prison time, and a broken reputation. The quote is a reminder to be honest and transparent when it concerns financial records, as any attempts to trick can lead to severe effects.