17. Chapter Seventeen | Theo #2
And as soon as she’s divorced from that asshole, I intend to do everything in my power to show her exactly how worth it she really is.
As I drive back to the office, Cian’s name pops up on my dash. “Hey man, I’ll be back at the office in a few minutes. What’s up?”
“Hey mate, it sounds like we will arrive around the same time. I just popped over to Java Jive to grab some fresh coffee and heard the most interesting tidbit.”
Cian always seems to know the latest gossip, and I think it’s in part his Irish accent and charming dimples.
People naturally want to open up to him, and he loves collecting information.
Pippa may be a dragon in the court room, but if one considers information treasure, Cian is a dragon in his own right.
I smile, only guessing where this is going.
“Interesting, huh? It must be pretty good if you’re calling me instead of waiting all of three minutes to see me in person. ”
I can hear the grin in his voice. “You are correct, sir. According to what I just learned, your favorite college-foe turned arch nemesis is allegedly under investigation.”
My eyebrows shoot up at that news. “What for?”
“Well, I was in line at Java Jive behind two lovely—and chatty—secretaries from his firm. It’s been a real tizzy over there since an anonymous tip two weeks ago or so led to an investigation by Homeland Security for a potential federal sanction violation.”
A bark of shocked laughter escapes me. “What? No way he could be that dumb. Are you sure?”
“Your lack of trust in my information gathering wounds me, Theodore. Of course, I immediately had to verify any of this tea. So, I called an assistant I know over there from the gym, and he said that the tip to Homeland Security conveniently coincided with chatter the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network was hearing. One of the client’s trust accounts with the firm had been flagged for suspicious banking activity and potential financial interactions with alleged cartel connections. ”
“No way. No. I don’t see Shane having the balls to do something so dangerous, let alone foolish. That’s a massive risk!”
“I agree, as did my source over there. The guy told me the client’s first and last names match an individual that the government has on the Specially Designated Nationals list of individuals that citizens of the United States are prohibited from doing business with.
The person that they’re confusing the firm’s client with has strong, if not proven, ties to the Colombian cartels.
He said he’s convinced they have enough evidence to prove that it’s in name only and not the same person.
Obviously, he couldn’t disclose client names, but a quick Google search led to an interesting discovery. ”
“Of course, it did.” I pull into my parking spot at the firm and Cian is standing there, holding a tray of coffees, and smiling. We disconnect as I get out of my SUV and continue the conversation. He extends a cup to me and the familiar smell of my usual salted caramel cream latte greets me.
I lift my cup in acknowledgment. “Thanks for this. Okay, time for show and tell. What did your internet research reveal?”
Cian wiggles his eyebrows. “Did you know that the most common surname in Colombia is Rodriguez?”
My eyes narrow. “That doesn’t feel groundbreaking, Byrne.”
“No, but it becomes much more interesting when you consider some of the top male first names of Colombia.” He pauses for dramatic effect until I wave for him to get on with it. Walking in into my office, I ease into my chair and look at him expectantly. “Juan, Miguel, and … Alejandro.”
Pausing before my lips can reach my drink, I snap my head to him. “Shane represented Alejandro Rodriguez in that embezzlement case in Nashville. There was a ton of press coverage because of that video with his assistant at the concert went viral. Wait … that guy has ties to the Colombian cartels?”
“Likely not.” Cian grins as he continues and he sounds more like he’s reporting the winning play at his last rugby game rather than a massive headache that sounds like Shane’s recent reality.
“But his name rang a bell for me too, so I looked it up and sure enough, there’s an individual with the same name on the list. What is incredibly ironic is that Shane’s client, Alejandro Rodriquez, and the one on the prohibited federal transaction list, do not only have the same name, but they have the same birth date and month.
However, the guy on the fed’s list was born fifteen years prior to the one Shane is representing, but I bet the birthday and month matching made the tip that much more credible. ”
“Situations like this can happen, it’s not totally unheard of, but what a fucking headache of red tape, forensic accounting, and audits to deal with to get it straightened out.
And that's not to mention the embarrassment now that word is clearly getting around about it.” I don’t fight the smile that is now as broad as Cian’s.
“Honestly, Cian, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.”