Page 229 of Titus

Goddamn, he looked tired. This fucked-up situation was kicking everyone’s ass in one way or another.

I was shocked when he looked up at me and smiled, something he rarely did in legal meetings.

“I apologize for running late,” Jonathan said, setting his briefcase on the conference table and removing his glasses. “I’ve just come from the courthouse, and I have good news.”

I leaned back. “Go on.”

He nodded. “The United States Attorney’s Office has formally advised us that you are no longer a subject of this investigation.”

The room fell into absolute silence as I continued to stare at him.

“What?” I finally asked him, needing him to repeat the words so I knew they were real.

Jonathan folded his hands. “The government is continuing its investigation into historical entities and any individuals who may be connected to them, but as of this afternoon, it has concluded there is insufficient evidence to support the belief that you knowingly participated in, concealed, or benefited from those structures.”

I stared at him in stunned silence as he went on.

“The restructuring records were significant. Every time you became aware of hidden entities, Mr. Hawk, you dismantled them,” he explained. “The government reviewed your decisions over a fifteen-year period and concluded that your conduct is fundamentally inconsistent with knowingly participating in a concealment scheme.”

“They’re done with me?” A smile slowly appeared.

“Correct, Mr. Hawk,” he said, reaching into his briefcase and withdrawing a folder. “The United States Attorney’s Office has advised us that you are no longer a target of this investigation and that it does not intend to pursue criminal charges against you.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, as it pertains to this matter, you’re in the clear.”

“And free to live my life?” I asked him, needing this information to be crystal clear. “They’re not charging me?”

“No, Mr. Hawk, they’re not charging you,” he confirmed, “and yes, you’re free to live your life.”

My brothers and I stayed silent, and for several seconds I just looked at Jonathan. Jesus Christ. That meant no charges, no hearings, no trial, and no possibility of years disappearing behind concrete walls over this bullshit.

A quiet laugh escaped me as I looked out toward the skyline. Everything seemed lighter and more liberating than it had before this news.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Wyatt said, leaning over and clapping me on the back. “It’s finally fucking over.”

Colton exhaled loudly, leaning against the table and dropping his face into his hands. He dragged them over his eyes, looked at me, and smiled. “Thank God,” he said.

I looked back at Jonathan. “When did they decide?”

“This afternoon.”

I frowned. “This afternoon?”

He nodded. “I spent most of the day in discussions with the Assistant United States Attorney. If it helps, their exact words were…” He looked down at his notes. “…‘Mr. Hawk’s actions over an extended period of years demonstrate transparency, remediation, and repeated efforts to unwind problematic structures whenever discovered.’”

“Clients don’t often receive compliments from federal prosecutors,” Jonathan said. “Frankly, Mr. Hawk, they believe you’ve spent years cleaning up someone else’s mess.”

“That would be one way to put it,” I answered.

“Imagine if Mark hadn’t brought that information to us?” Wyatt said, shaking his head. “Jesus Christ, man, you could’ve been looking at years in prison for our father’s crimes.”

I looked at Jonathan. “What happens now?”

The attorney smiled. “You go and live your life.”

I stood, knowing there was one person I needed to visit before I could do just that.