This house was his life’s work, a place that had sheltered the city’s history and supported its people for forty years.

“I won’t let him sell it,” I said, my voice hardening.

“Then you have to stop the vote tomorrow,” Vanessa said. “But he is already moving. He knows his time is running out.”

My phone suddenly buzzed on the desk, the vibration rattling against the wood.

I picked it up, my eyes narrowing as I saw the sender’s name.

It was an email from the executive director’s office.

The subject line read: *REVISED AGENDA: EMERGENCY LIQUIDATION VOTE.*

I opened it, my hand trembling as I read the text.

Grant had rescheduled the board meeting from ten in the morning to seven-thirty.

“He’s moved it up,” I said, showing the screen to Vanessa. “He wants to push the resolution through before the bank opens.”

“We have to call the other board members,” she said. “Lorna. Arthur Bell.”

“Lorna will listen to me,” I said. “But Arthur is pragmatically aligned with Helen. He won’t change his vote without seeing this proof.”