CHAPTER 193: PREPARATIONS CONTINUE

"Test one two," Jake said into his earpiece. "Can everyone hear me?"

"Clear," Kofi responded from his position near the hotel’s side entrance.

"Same," Yuna said. She was at an outdoor cafe table, looking like any other customer enjoying the evening.

They waited. At seven fifty-five, Brennan arrived in a black Mercedes. He went inside alone.

"Target acquired," Nina said, feeling ridiculous but also excited.

Three minutes later, another car arrived. An older man in an expensive suit got out.

"That’s Harold Kingston," Jake said, recognizing him from his research. "Board of trustees member. Owns a construction company."

"Getting this on video," Nina confirmed.

Two more arrivals followed. Martha Chen, another board member who ran a real estate firm. Then surprisingly, Coach Williams from the football program.

"What’s he doing here?" Kofi asked through the earpiece.

"Football wants that land too," Nina realized. "They’re probably working together."

The group disappeared inside. Yuna stood up casually and walked closer to the building, stopping to look at her phone near the private dining room windows.

"Blinds are partially open," she reported. "I can see them sitting down."

For the next hour, they watched and waited. Jake’s camera captured everyone who entered and left. Yuna caught fragments of conversation when servers opened the door.

"They’re discussing demolition timeline," she said at one point. "Brennan says he can have crews ready the day the injunction expires."

"That’s illegal if the historical designation goes through," Nina said.

"He seems confident it won’t."

Around nine-fifteen, the meeting appeared to be ending. The group was standing, shaking hands.

"They’re coming out," Yuna warned. "I’m moving."

She walked casually back toward the cafe. The others stayed in position, camera still rolling.

The board members left first, separately, trying not to look like they’d been together. Brennan came out last, talking on his phone.

His voice carried in the quiet evening. "It’s done. We have the votes. Thursday’s engineering report will seal it."

He got in his car and drove away.

"Did you get that?" Kofi asked.

"Every word," Nina confirmed.

They regrouped at Jake’s car.

"This is big," Jake said. "We have proof of collusion between Brennan and board members."

"But is it illegal?" Yuna asked.

"Maybe not illegal, but definitely unethical. The university has rules about conflicts of interest."

"We need to get this to someone who can use it," Nina said. "The campus paper, maybe the local news."

"And Dean Morrison," Kofi added. "She should know what’s happening behind her back."

They drove back to campus, adrenaline still high from their successful surveillance.

Back at the apartment, they uploaded the video and made copies.

"We can’t release this yet," Kofi decided. "It’s leverage. We use it if we have to."

"When do we tell Dean Morrison?"

"Tomorrow morning. Before the engineering inspection."

Ruby called, wanting updates. They put her on speaker and explained what they’d found.

"So board members are actively working against the university’s interests?"

"Looks like it."

"That’s horrible. What about Coach Williams?"

"He probably wants the land for football facilities. Brennan’s development is just a cover."

They talked until midnight, planning how to use their new information. The tournament was in two days. The board meeting was in six. They had to time everything perfectly.

Thursday morning came too fast. Kofi was at the dojo by six AM, meeting the engineer Ms. Yamamoto had hired.

"I’m Dr. Park," the woman said, shaking his hand. "Structural engineer, specializing in historical buildings."

"Thank you for coming on short notice."

"Happy to help. I’ve seen too many historical buildings destroyed for profit."

She began her inspection, taking photos and measurements, testing materials. Her assessment was thorough and professional.

"This building is solid," she said after two hours. "Better construction than most modern buildings. The Japanese influence is clear - built to withstand earthquakes, even though we don’t get them here."

"So it’s safe?"

"Completely. Any report saying otherwise would be fraudulent."

At nine AM, Brennan arrived with his engineer, a nervous-looking man named Thompson.

"We’re conducting our inspection now," Brennan announced. "The building needs to be cleared."

"Actually, we’re conducting our own inspection," Kofi replied. "Dr. Park, meet Mr. Thompson."

The two engineers looked at each other awkwardly.

"This is irregular," Thompson said.

"Not at all," Dr. Park replied. "Would you like to compare methodologies? I’m particularly interested in how you measure structural load capacity."

Thompson grew more nervous. "I need to conduct my inspection privately."

"That’s not how engineering assessments work," Dr. Park said pleasantly. "Unless you’re planning to falsify data?"

Brennan’s face darkened. "What are you implying?"

"Nothing. Just ensuring professional standards are maintained."

Dean Morrison arrived, having been informed of the situation by Kofi earlier.

"Gentlemen, Dr. Park, Mr. Thompson. I’ll be observing both inspections to ensure fairness."

Brennan looked trapped. "That’s not necessary."

"I believe it is."

The dual inspection proceeded awkwardly. Every measurement Thompson took, Dr. Park verified. Every supposed flaw he found, she debunked with actual engineering principles.

By noon, it was clear Thompson’s report wouldn’t hold up to scrutiny.

"I need more time," Thompson said desperately.

"Take all the time you need," Dean Morrison replied. "But Dr. Park’s report will also be submitted to the board."

Brennan pulled Thompson aside for a heated, whispered conversation. Then they left abruptly.

"Well," Dean Morrison said. "That was interesting."

"There’s more," Kofi said. He showed her selected portions of the previous night’s video. Not everything, but enough.

Her expression hardened as she watched. "Board members meeting privately with a developer? That’s a serious violation of university policy."

"What can you do about it?"

"Officially? Not much without more evidence. Unofficially? I can make certain people very uncomfortable."

She left with a copy of the video. Kofi felt like they’d won a battle, but the war was far from over.

The rest of Thursday was consumed by tournament preparation. The dojo was transformed into a competition venue with multiple marked areas for different events.

"Registration is up to seventy competitors," Ruby reported. "We’ll need more judges."

"Tanaka-sensei is bringing colleagues," Yuna said. "All certified."

Nina was coordinating media coverage. "Local news will be here. Two newspapers. And Kevin’s doing a live blog for the campus paper."

"This is bigger than we planned," Kofi said.

"Good. Harder to destroy something everyone’s watching."

That evening, they held a final planning meeting. All the martial arts programs were represented, along with volunteers from across campus.

"Tomorrow is about more than competition," Kofi addressed the group. "It’s about showing what this place means to our community. Every match, every demonstration, is an argument for preservation."

"No pressure," someone joked nervously.

"There is pressure. But we work best under pressure."

After the meeting, Kofi and Nina walked home together.

"You know Brennan won’t give up," Nina said.

"I know."

"Even if the tournament is successful, even if we get historical designation, he’ll find another angle."

"Then we’ll fight that too."

Nina stopped walking. "How are you so calm about this?"

"I’m not calm. I’m terrified. But being terrified doesn’t change what needs to be done."

"Most people would have given up by now."

"We’re not most people."

"No," she agreed. "We’re definitely not."

At home, they found an envelope under their door. No name, no address.

Inside was a single sheet of paper: "Stop now or face consequences."

"Well," Nina said. "That’s not ominous at all."

"Should we call the police?"

"And say what? We got a vague threat related to our attempt to save a building?"

Kofi crumpled the paper. "Tomorrow we show them what we’re made of."

"Tonight we sleep. We’ll need energy for tomorrow."

But sleep was hard to find. Kofi lay awake thinking about everything that could go wrong. The tournament could fail. The board could side with Brennan. They could lose everything.

’Stop thinking. Tomorrow will come either way.’

Finally, exhaustion won. He fell asleep to the sound of Nina’s breathing, steady and reassuring beside him.

Friday would bring answers, one way or another.