Chapter 14 - A Building Worth More Than Money
The emergency hearing took place the next morning. Priya presented the conflicting approval records, Judith's statement, Evelyn's trust schedule and the traced payments. Nicole's lawyer argued that the sale was needed to save the foundation from financial trouble.
"If there is a crisis," the judge asked, "why are the independent trustees saying they were never told?"
There was no quick answer.
The judge issued a temporary order preventing the property transfer while the parties produced the relevant records. It did not determine guilt or return the missing money. It kept a door from closing while people asked what was behind it.
Nina stepped into the courthouse corridor and called Alma. "The sale is paused."
"For how long?"
"Until the next hearing. We still have work to do."
Alma began to cry. Behind her, children were laughing in the makeshift room a neighboring church had lent them. Nina held the phone away from her ear and let herself hear the sound.
Sebastian appeared at the end of the corridor. "Your mother was one of Evelyn's favorite volunteers," he told Nina. "She used to say the foundation should learn from the people who opened the building each morning. We didn't listen."
"You can start," Nina said.
"I intend to."
Brandon joined them. He had formally stepped aside from financial approvals until the audit concluded. Nina saw how much the decision cost him; it also made her trust his next words a little more.
"Nicole's attorney wants to meet the independent board," he said. "She says she has a full explanation for every dollar."
Sebastian looked toward the courtroom doors. "Then let her explain it with the records in front of her."
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Before the meeting could be arranged, Priya received an urgent call from the escrow agent. Another company had claimed an ownership interest in the money under a contract signed weeks earlier.
The claimant was Adrian Vale's second company.
