Chapter 14 - An Owner Who Didn't Know
"How can a company you own receive foundation money without you knowing?" I asked.
Elliot flinched. "My holding company invests through a manager. I don't personally review every subsidiary."
"Families don't get to skip reading eviction notices because they're busy."
He looked toward Rosa's children. "You're right."
That answer surprised me more than a denial would have.
Vanessa stormed into the room. "Don't discuss our finances with a housekeeper."
"She's the reason we found Iris," Elliot said. "You don't get to call her that like it's an insult."
"You're letting people humiliate us."
"You tried to humiliate her in front of three hundred people. I saw the video."
Vanessa's eyes flashed toward me. "You were supposed to lose your temper."
The room went still.
Elliot asked, "What did you say?"
She recovered a second too late. "I mean she nearly did."
Sloane had been standing by the doorway, recording with everyone's knowledge. She lowered her phone slowly.
"I'd like to ask you a few questions about that," she said.
Vanessa walked out without answering.
The legal aid team called back. Nadia had located an emergency judge willing to review the affidavits overnight. She needed signed statements from residents and the notices immediately.
Rosa sat down with her children and began writing. Iris and Grace made copies. Elliot arranged hotel rooms for anyone who had nowhere safe to sleep, on the condition that they could accept without signing away any claim.
I watched him hand his personal credit card to the front desk. Money could solve a night in a room. It couldn't undo what he'd allowed to happen.
At 11:52 p.m., Officer Monroe received a call. Pike had contacted a lawyer and agreed to meet investigators.
"Where?" I asked.
May you like
"He requested the Old Harbor Hotel," she said.
And suddenly I understood why he'd wanted me blamed on camera before anyone looked at his past.
