Whitlock Towing.
Owned by Price’s brother.
Why photograph Nia?
Because several victims had seen Nia interviewing witnesses.
The local network knew a Black female federal agent was asking questions.
They did not know her exact role.
When Ross provided the sting description, Vance matched it to the surveillance photo.
That was why Keller asked:
Who told you to come here?
He knew she might be the agent.
He stopped her anyway.
That detail horrified Nia more than if he had acted blindly.
He suspected the federal government was watching.
And still believed the system protecting him was stronger.
Chapter Seven: Wade Keller’s Story
Keller waited nine days before asking to cooperate.
His attorney contacted Rebecca.
“Mr. Keller has information.”
Rebecca answered:
“So do we.”
“He can give you Vance.”
“We already have Vance.”
“Price.”
“We have Price.”
“The towing operation.”
“We have warrants.”
The attorney became quiet.
“What do you want?”
Rebecca looked through the observation glass toward Nia.
Nia mouthed:
Victims.
Rebecca said:
“Everything.”
Keller entered the proffer room without uniform.
He looked smaller.
Not physically.
Socially.
The authority had been removed.
Now he was a middle-aged man in a gray detention jumpsuit with tired eyes and no belt.
Nia sat across from him.
His attention fixed on her immediately.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Keller said:
“I didn't know you were FBI.”
Nia’s expression did not change.
“You sprayed me after I said FBI.”
“I thought you were lying.”
“Why?”
He looked away.
“People lie.”
“Why did you think I did?”
Silence.
Rebecca interrupted.
“This is not therapy.”
“Answer relevant questions or we're finished.”
Keller rubbed his hands together.
“I thought she was bait.”
Nia felt anger flare.
“You were right.”
He looked surprised.
“Not bait to make you commit a crime.”
Nia continued.
“Bait to see whether you already would.”
Keller’s face hardened.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“You already decided.”
“We had evidence before I ever stood at that pump.”
“Then why send you?”
“To learn how much worse it was.”
He laughed bitterly.
“You got what you wanted.”
Nia leaned forward.
“I wanted you to check my plate and drive away.”
That silenced him.
For the first time, Keller looked uncertain.
She continued.
“Do you understand that?”
“The best outcome was nothing.”
“You made every choice that followed.”
Keller looked down.
Rebecca opened the proffer.
“How did the money scheme start?”
Keller resisted.
Then began.
Seven years earlier, a drug courier had abandoned $40,000 during a traffic stop.
The county filed the seizure correctly.
Vance told officers how much overtime the forfeiture funded.
Then the logic changed.
If drug money helped the department, why not look harder?
If drivers carrying large cash amounts could not explain every dollar, why not seize?
If prosecutors declined the case later, the department still sometimes retained administrative fees.
Then Vance discovered many victims would not challenge missing amounts.
Especially immigrants.