Page 103 of Finding Peace
“Hey, Seb?” I say when the noise dips for a moment.
There’s a shuffle on the other end. “Yeah?”
“I need you to look into something for me.”
Silence.
“What is it?” he asks carefully.
“Keller’s financials. I know you’ve been looking into him, but there’s got to be something deeper. Something we’re missing. I’m talking shell companies. Offshore accounts. Any federal investigations that might already be circling. Political donations. Regulatory violations. Anything that smells like fraud or racketeering.” The room goes still. “And if there’s anyone in his circle who looks like they might flip if given the chance.”
Sebastian doesn’t hesitate. “Give me until this afternoon.”
When we hang up, Beau frowns. “What was that?”
I rest my forearms on the counter. “He’s too popular for us to touch at the level we want to,” I say. “We know this. So…wedon’t touch him at all.”
Lawson’s eyes sharpen.
“We let someone else do it.”
Jasper’s jaw tightens. “You thinking the feds?”
“He’s dirty—obviously—but I doubt we’re the first people he’s done this to. There’s got to be a pattern.”
Slow understanding spreads across their faces.
Beau exhales slowly. “You thinkin’ a public execution?”
“Of sorts,” I answer.
Lawson’s mouth curves slightly. “You’re a fucking genius, Brother.”
“I try.”
The call comes at 2:17 p.m.
Abigail’s napping upstairs.
Lawson’s in the office.
Jasper’s outside playing with Lucy.
And Beau’s making us all a quick lunch.
I answer immediately. “Tell me you found something.”
He doesn’t make me wait. “I found it.”
My pulse kicks up a notch. “Talk to me.”
“It’s money. Keller’s been funneling funds through a nonprofit redevelopment initiative tied to low-income housing grants.”
I frown. “And?”
“And the housing doesn’t exist.”
My jaw tightens. “He’s been securing federal and state funds for projects that were approved on paper, then rerouting the majority of them into private holdings. Offshore accounts. Land acquisitions through holding companies. Campaign contributions disguised as ‘consulting fees.’” I don’t speak, and Sebastian continues. “There are forged environmental impact reports. Inflated contractor invoices. He’s been buying land ahead of zoning changes he quietly influences, then selling it back to the city at triple the price.”
