Chapter 6 - The Board Arrives
The tall man in the charcoal suit was Julian Sterling, head of the commercial trust that owned the dojo property and three major athletics complexes across the county. Beside him was an elderly board representative holding a leather portfolio. The room fell into absolute, suffocating silence. Even the SWAT officers stood at attention, recognizing the political weight in the room.
""Mr. Sterling,"" Master Vance emerged quickly from his office, his face stern. ""We are in the middle of a private tactical seminar.""
""It doesn't look very private, Vance,"" Sterling said, his eyes scanning the breathless Marcus struggling to his feet and Maya standing composed in the center. ""It looks like an unlicensed street fight. And we just received a very disturbing anonymous report regarding the credentials of the woman you brought in here.""
Marcus wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, a malicious spark returning to his gaze despite his rasping breath. He leaned against the ring post, breathing heavily, watching Maya take the brunt of the assault.
Sterling opened the folder in his hands, pulling out a printout bearing official state security emblems. ""Maya Thorne. Two years ago, dismissed from the Department of Tactical Enforcement after an incident involving an injured trainee and subsequent missing equipment logs. Sealed by internal affairs.""
The officers in the back began murmuring quietly among themselves. In law enforcement and professional training circles, an unsealed misconduct file was a career death sentence.
""That report is heavily redacted to protect an ongoing corruption inquiry,"" Maya stated firmly, stepping off the mat. ""The department dismissed the leadership, not me. I resigned.""
""That's not what this anonymous leak indicates,"" Sterling said coldly. ""The board cannot allow an instructor with an unverified, volatile past to hold contracts with municipal agencies under our roof. As of this moment, your trial period is terminated.""
May you like
Marcus smiled, a faint, ugly curve of his lips. Maya’s knuckles turned white.
""Wait,"" Hayes' voice cut across the room, deep and commanding. The lead SWAT officer stepped forward, towering over Sterling. ""You might want to check the signature on the authorization of that seal, Mr. Sterling.""
