Grizzly stared at him.
“That you?”
Reuben ignored him.
“Samantha, that was taken out of context.”
“It was a voicemail.”
“You were hysterical.”
“I wasn’t even on the call.”
Reuben’s mouth opened.
Closed.
Wyatt almost smiled.
Samantha continued.
“My attorney has copies.”
That was new information to Reuben.
He looked at her sharply.
“What attorney?”
“Elena Marquez.”
He recognized the name.
Samantha saw it.
Elena worked with a regional advocacy group Reuben’s office had criticized publicly after they challenged a city contracting decision.
Reuben recovered quickly.
“You think a legal-aid lawyer is going to protect you from me?”
Samantha’s fear flared.
Then Grizzly spoke.
“No.”
Everyone looked at him.
“She’s going to protect herself.”
Grizzly pointed toward the door.
“We’re just making sure she gets the chance.”
Reuben laughed once.
“You people actually think you have leverage?”
He pulled out his phone.
“I make one call and code enforcement, vice, fire inspection, and every agency in this county can spend six months taking this building apart.”
Grizzly’s face remained calm.