CHAPTER 191: TUESDAY RESEARCH

She stood and walked to the window. "I don’t like being pushed into quick decisions. Brennan showed up this morning with his offer and demanded an immediate response."

"You could say no."

"I could. But five million dollars is hard to refuse without good reason."

"The dojo is a good reason."

"To you. The board of trustees sees numbers."

"What would convince them?"

She turned to face him. "A better offer. Or a compelling reason why this specific building matters more than five million in improvements."

"We’re working on the second one."

"Work fast. Brennan has connections. He’s already talking to board members."

The door opened. Brennan walked in carrying two cups of coffee. He didn’t bring one for Kofi.

"Have we reached a decision?" he asked.

"We’re requesting a formal review process," Kofi said. "Standard procedure for any major change to student facilities."

Brennan’s smile tightened. "That could take weeks."

"Yes."

"The offer might not remain available that long."

"That’s a risk we’ll have to take."

Brennan set down his coffee. "You’re making a mistake, kid. This is a generous offer. The next one might not be."

"Is that a threat?"

"It’s a fact. Development opportunities don’t wait."

Dean Morrison intervened. "Mr. Dameire is right about procedure. We need at least two weeks for review and comment."

"One week," Brennan countered.

"Ten days," the Dean said. "Final offer."

Brennan looked between them. "Ten days. But I want a definitive answer then."

He left without saying goodbye.

Dean Morrison sat back down. "You have ten days to save your dojo. Use them wisely."

Kofi left the office and immediately called Nina.

"Ten days. That’s what we have."

"Then we’d better get started. War council at the apartment. One hour."

Kofi hung up and looked back at the administration building. Brennan was standing outside, talking on his phone. He saw Kofi watching and gave a small wave.

The message was clear. This wasn’t over.

’Ten days to save everything we’ve built. No pressure.’

He walked toward the apartment, already making lists in his head. People to call. Documents to gather. Strategies to develop.

The war for the dojo had begun.

---

Ruby hadn’t slept well. Being locked in that room had shaken her more than she’d admitted. Jake stayed over, sleeping on her dorm room floor despite her roommate’s complaints.

"You don’t have to guard me," Ruby said over breakfast in the dining hall.

"I’m not guarding. I’m keeping you company."

"Jake."

"Someone targeted you to get to us. That means you’re not safe."

Ruby poked at her scrambled eggs. "We don’t know for sure it was connected."

"Come on. You get locked up the same morning a developer tries to steal the dojo? That’s not a coincidence."

Across the dining hall, Kofi and Nina were having a similar conversation.

"We need to find out more about Brennan," Nina said. "His connection to Thorne can’t be random."

"Ruby’s already researching."

"Ruby needs to focus on the historical designation paperwork. I’ll dig into Brennan."

They’d divided tasks the night before. Ruby and Jake would handle historical documentation. Nina would investigate Brennan Development. Kofi would coordinate with the martial arts programs and manage the administrative process.

"What about protection?" Kofi asked. "If they went after Ruby once..."

"We stick together. No one goes anywhere alone."

After breakfast, they split up but stayed in communication through a group chat.

Ruby spent the morning in the university archives, three floors below the main library. Jake sat at the next table, supposedly doing his own homework but actually watching everyone who came in.

The archives were quiet. Just Ruby, Jake, and Mrs. Patterson, the elderly archivist who’d worked there for thirty years.

"What are you looking for, dear?" Mrs. Patterson asked.

"Information about the kendo dojo building. Construction records, historical significance, anything like that."

"Oh, that old building. Let me check the index."

She disappeared into the stacks. Ruby opened her laptop and started organizing what they’d found so far. The building was constructed in 1962 as part of the university’s post-war expansion. Originally designed as a gymnasium, it was converted to a martial arts facility in 1975.

"Here we go," Mrs. Patterson returned with a box of documents. "Original blueprints, construction photos, dedication ceremony programs."

Ruby opened the box carefully. The documents were yellowed but well-preserved. The first photo showed the building under construction. The second showed the dedication ceremony.

"Wait." Ruby looked closer at the dedication photo. "Jake, look at this."

In the photo, a man was cutting a ribbon in front of the building. The caption read: ’James Morrison dedicates new gymnasium.’

"Morrison?" Jake read. "Any relation to Dean Morrison?"

Ruby was already searching on her laptop. "James Morrison, university trustee from 1960 to 1985. Father of current Dean Elizabeth Morrison."

"The Dean’s father built the dojo?"

"That explains why she seemed sympathetic yesterday."

Ruby took photos of all the documents. The dedication program included speeches about the importance of physical education and cultural exchange. Perfect for their historical designation application.

"There’s more," Mrs. Patterson said, returning with another box. "The building hosted the 1976 Regional Martial Arts Championship. First integrated tournament in the state."

"Integrated?"

"Black and white competitors. It was controversial at the time."

Ruby felt excitement building. This was exactly what they needed. Historical and cultural significance.

She kept digging. Guest instructor visits from Japan in the 1980s. Community self-defense classes for women in the 1990s. Youth programs for at-risk kids in the 2000s.

"This building has been serving the community for sixty years," she told Jake.

"Document everything. We need it all."

Meanwhile, Nina was in the journalism department’s computer lab, using their advanced search tools to investigate Brennan Development.

Kevin, the student reporter who’d covered the kendo demonstration, was helping.

"Why are you interested in Brennan?" he asked.

"He’s trying to buy the dojo land for development."

"Seriously? Right after you saved the program?"

"Seems suspicious, right?"

Kevin pulled up financial databases. "Brennan Development. Let’s see. Incorporated in Delaware, standard for tax purposes. But look at this."

He pointed to the screen. "Major investor as of six months ago: Steele Holdings."

"Who’s Steele Holdings?"

"Shell company. But I can trace it." His fingers flew across the keyboard. "Steele Holdings is owned by Phoenix Investments. Phoenix Investments is owned by... interesting."

"What?"

"Dead end. But a familiar dead end. This same structure was used by Thomas Thorne for his money laundering."

Nina felt her pulse quicken. "So Brennan is connected to Thorne’s old network?"

"Looks like it. But proving it legally would be nearly impossible."

"We don’t need legal proof. We just need enough to make the university nervous."

She documented everything Kevin found. Shell companies, suspicious timing, connection patterns. It painted a picture even if it didn’t prove anything definitively.

Her phone buzzed. Kofi: ’Emergency meeting called by Brennan. Conference room B. Can you come?’

’On my way.’

Conference Room B was in the administration building. When Nina arrived, it was already crowded. Brennan was at the front with a presentation ready. Dean Morrison sat to the side, looking unhappy. Various university officials filled the other seats.

Kofi was standing in the back. Nina joined him.

"What’s happening?"

"Ambush presentation. He’s trying to sell his vision directly to the administration."

Brennan clicked his remote. An architectural rendering appeared on the screen. A gleaming modern complex where the dojo currently stood.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the future of university athletics."

The rendering was impressive. Glass and steel, sustainable design features, capacity for multiple sports.

"This facility would serve ten times as many students as the current building," Brennan said. "Modern equipment, accessible design, revenue-generating potential through hosting regional competitions."

An administrator raised her hand. "What about the current martial arts programs?"

"We’d relocate them to the auxiliary gymnasium."

Kofi spoke up. "The auxiliary gym is half the size and has no specialized equipment."

"Which we’d provide as part of the development deal."

"When?"

"After construction is complete."

"So two years with no proper facility?"

Brennan’s smile never wavered. "Progress requires sacrifice."

"Easy to say when you’re not the one sacrificing."

Dean Morrison intervened. "Mr. Brennan, while your proposal is interesting, we’re still in the review period. This presentation is premature."

"I believe in being proactive, Dean. The board of trustees meets next week. They should have all relevant information."

He clicked through more slides. Financial projections, student usage statistics, comparison with peer institutions.

Nina had to admit it was compelling if you only looked at numbers.

Then Brennan made a mistake.

"Of course, there’s also the matter of the building’s current condition." A new slide showed photos of the dojo, but they were edited to emphasize every flaw. Cracks in walls looked like structural damage. Worn mats looked like health hazards.

"These are doctored photos," Kofi said loudly.

Everyone turned to look at him.

"I was in the dojo this morning. These images have been manipulated to exaggerate problems."

"That’s a serious accusation," Brennan said.

"It’s a fact. Look at this supposed crack." Kofi pointed to the screen. "I can show you the actual wall. It’s a surface scratch, not structural damage."

"Perhaps we should verify these images," Dean Morrison said.

"I have unedited photos on my phone," Kofi said. "Taken yesterday."

The room grew uncomfortable. Brennan’s credibility had just taken a hit.

"We’ll review all materials carefully," an administrator said. "Thank you for your presentation, Mr. Brennan."

The meeting broke up awkwardly. Brennan packed his materials quickly, his composure cracked.

As people filed out, he stopped near Kofi and Nina.

"Clever move, kid. But this isn’t over."

"No, it’s not."

After Brennan left, Dean Morrison approached them.

"The doctored photos were sloppy," she said quietly. "He’s getting desperate. Be careful."

Back at the apartment that afternoon, the team compared notes.

"We have strong historical documentation," Ruby reported. "The building is definitely eligible for historical designation."

"And Brennan is definitely connected to Thorne’s network," Nina added. "Can’t prove it in court, but the pattern is clear."

"Ms. Yamamoto filed the emergency injunction this morning," Kofi said. "That gives us at least thirty days before any demolition could happen."

"So we’re winning?" Jake asked.

"We’re not losing yet," Kofi corrected. "But Brennan has resources we don’t. Money, connections, influence."

"We have something better," Nina said. "We have truth and community support."

"That sounds nice, but money usually wins."

"Not always. Remember what happened with Thorne."

They spent the rest of the afternoon planning their next moves. Ruby would finish the historical designation application. Nina would write an article exposing Brennan’s connections. Kofi would rally the martial arts community.

Around six, there was a knock at the door. Kofi opened it cautiously.

It was Yuna.

"I heard about the situation," she said. "I want to help."

"I thought you were preparing to leave for Japan?"

"I am. But this is more important. The dojo is where I learned to fight. Really fight. Not just with my body but for things that matter."

She handed Kofi a folder. "Ren and I made some calls. Seventeen senseis from around the region are willing to come testify about the dojo’s importance. Three of them are internationally recognized masters."

"Yuna, this is incredible."

"There’s more. Hayashi-sensei knows someone on the board of trustees. A former student. He’s willing to advocate for us."

Nina was looking through the folder. "This could actually work. If we present a united front, show widespread support..."

"We need an event," Yuna said. "Not just a demonstration. Something bigger."

"Like what?"

"A tournament. This weekend. Open to all regional schools. Show the board what the dojo really means to the martial arts community."

"That’s four days away."

"Then we better start planning."