The folder was thin.
Too thin.
Sebastian opened it while walking back into his office. Inside were only twelve pages.
Each page carried the name of a village.
Each village carried the same notation.
Development funds approved.
Project completed.
He frowned.
Completed?
The attached photographs told a different story. There were no paved roads.
No electricity. No clinics. No schools.
Only crumbling mud houses, broken wells, and children standing barefoot on dusty paths.
He stopped reading.
"Magnus."
Magnus entered moments later."You wanted to see me?" Sebastian handed him the file.
"Tell me these photographs are old."
Magnus flipped through them. "They're from last week." .Silence settled between them.
Sebastian walked toward the window. "How many villages?" "Twelve in this report."
"And nationwide?" Magnus hesitated.
"We're still counting." Sebastian turned.
"Give me your estimate."
