Chapter 6 - The Call
Maya placed the phone on speaker.
Price spoke before anyone answered.
“Did she sign?”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Maya remained silent.
Price continued.
“The bank needs confirmation before midnight.”
Maya looked at Claire.
She understood.
In a steady voice, Claire said:
“No.”
The line went quiet.
Then Price changed his tone.
“Claire, you sound distressed.”
The manipulation began instantly.
He knew the call might be recorded.
He wanted her resistance to sound unstable.
“I am safe,” Claire said.
“Maya is here.”
Price paused.
“Investigator Torres was not authorized to enter the residence.”
Maya spoke at last.
“My warrant says otherwise.”
“The warrant was limited.”
“After someone deleted a paragraph.”
Price ended the call.
Seconds later, Maya’s federal credential disappeared from her phone.
Her access had been suspended remotely.
Adrian’s confidence returned.
“You’re no longer an investigator.”
Maya looked at him.
“My employment status does not release you from handcuffs.”
He laughed.
“You have no authority.”
The older witness stepped away from the windows.
Eleanor removed a sealed envelope from beneath her black shawl.
It contained a state-court order appointing Maya temporary receiver of the Skyline Stability Fund.
The order was independent of her federal position.
Maya had expected Price to interfere.
So she obtained authority through a second court with the employee trust attorney.
Her badge opened the door.
The receivership kept it open.
She now controlled only the disputed property—not the workers, not Claire and not the company.
Every major decision required approval from an elected employee council.
Adrian stared at the order.
“You planned this.”
Maya answered:
“I prepared for someone powerful to protect you.”
The first employee council meeting began through a secure video call.
Hotel workers appeared from kitchens, loading docks, front desks and apartment living rooms.
They voted to freeze the penthouse title.
Protect every resident lease.
Restore denied medical claims.
And suspend family distributions.
Then the council found something inside Claire Cole Holdings.
The company had already received money.
Not six hundred million.
May you like
One dollar.
A symbolic payment from Maya.
