Then, include that, too. She turned toward the three women. Counselors, come inside when you're ready. Mercer watched her walk back toward the courthouse. Denise waited until the judge was out of earshot.
Misunderstanding. Maya looked at Mercer. Leave it. They gathered their belongings and walked toward the entrance. Lena spoke quietly.
He called it Apex Meridian material before anyone told him what the note said. "I know. " He admitted he was here before the delivery. "I know that, too. " Denise glanced back and the camera went off before the detention. Maya pushed open the courthouse door. "Remember all of it. " Mercer returned to his patrol vehicle several minutes later and opened his laptop.
The body camera remained off. He began typing. Three subjects knowingly interfered with an emergency security investigation involving potentially unauthorized corporate documents. He stopped, read the sentence, then continued. Subjects repeatedly challenged lawful commands and delayed efforts to secure the suspected material.
His phone vibrated beside the keyboard. A message from Deputy Chief Robert Keane appeared. Make sure the obstruction basis is clear. Mercer stared at it before returning to the report. A second message arrived.
Do not mention the original source. Mercer looked toward the courthouse entrance. The handcuffs had been removed, but the official version of what happened was only beginning to take shape. The next morning, Maya met Denise and Lena at a diner two blocks from their office. The place was quiet enough for conversation, and they took a booth near the back where they could spread out papers without drawing attention.
Denise ordered black coffee, eggs, and toast. Lena asked for coffee and oatmeal. Maya barely looked at the menu before ordering the same breakfast she had eaten there for years. Their food had just arrived when Lena placed a printed police report in the center of the table. I got the incident report.
Maya set down her coffee. It was filed late last night. Denise pulled the pages toward her and started reading. Her expression changed before she reached the bottom of the first page. He says we refused repeated lawful commands.
Lena nodded. Keep reading. Denise continued. Intentional delay interference with a courthouse security investigation. Failure to cooperate with seizure of suspected unauthorized corporate material.
Maya held out her hand. Denise passed her the report. Maya read it carefully. Mercer had written that the three women repeatedly interfered with his efforts to investigate the sealed case. He described their questions as resistance and their refusal to consent to a search as a refusal to cooperate.
The report did not mention that they had provided their names. It did not mention that they had followed his instructions to step away from the case. It did not mention that the body camera had stopped recording during the confrontation. Most importantly, it described the case as being connected to Apex Meridian before Mercer had any official way to know that. Denise pushed her plate aside.
He wrote the version he needed. Maya kept reading. He wrote the version someone could use. Lena looked at her. That may already be happening.
She opened her laptop and turned the screen toward them. A new filing had appeared in Bennett versus Apex Meridian. Denise read the title first. motion to disqualify council. Maya did not react immediately. Adrien Voss had moved quickly.
The filing argued that Williams, Carter, and Brooks could no longer represent Harold Bennett without creating a serious conflict. According to Voss, the three women were now potential witnesses in an ongoing courthouse security matter involving disputed corporate material. He also suggested that their conduct could become the subject of criminal or professional review. Denise looked up. He filed this before the court even decided what that case contains.
He doesn't need the contents yet, Maya said. Lena scrolled farther down. There's more. An ethics grievance had also been submitted to the state bar. It claimed the firm may have accepted improperly obtained corporate records and then obstructed an officer who attempted to secure them.
Denise leaned back. So, that's the plan. Maya folded the police report and placed it beside Voss's motion. Denise tapped the paper. He's using Mercer.
No, Maya said, "He's using the report. " Lena looked at her. Maya continued. The cuffs were theater. This is the weapon for a moment. Nobody spoke.
The waitress returned with a coffee pot and topped off their cups. She had worked there long enough to know Maya by name, but she did not ask about the papers covering the table. Anything else for you ladies? We're fine, thank you, Maya said. The waitress nodded and moved on.
Denise waited until she was gone. If Voss gets us removed, he doesn't have to win against us. He just has to make us unavailable, Lena said. Maya closed the laptop. That means we treat the police report as part of the litigation now.
Denise looked at her. And the bar complaint, we answer it. The motion, we oppose it. and Mercer. Maya took a drink of coffee. We find out why he knew that case was coming.
Later that morning, Harold Bennett arrived at their office. At 61, Harold had the reserved manner of a man who had spent most of his career speaking carefully because other people took notes when he did. He had once served as chief financial officer of Apex Meridian Development. Now he was suing the company over allegations that internal financial records had been manipulated and that public contract documents had been concealed during prior review. Maya met him in the conference room with Denise and Lena.
Harold placed a folder on the table. I saw the motion. We assumed you would, Maya said. And the ethics complaint? Yes.
Harold looked at each of them. Is any of it true? No. Maya said, "We received a sealed case from an unknown source. We did not open it.
We did not consent to a search because the source and legal status of the material had not been established. A judge now has the case in neutral custody. " Harold nodded slowly. "And the police report? It leaves out facts and changes the meaning of what happened. Can you prove that? " "Not yet. " Harold looked at Maya.
"What does Voss want? To remove us from your case. " I figured that out. Maya chose her next words carefully. You need to understand that you have the right to choose other counsel if you believe this creates too much risk. Harold's expression hardened.
No, Harold. Listen to me. I am. If this dispute grows, it could complicate the Bennett case. It already has.
You should make your decision based on your interests, not ours. Harold leaned forward. I hired this firm because Voss has spent years assuming everyone across the table would eventually get tired, get scared, or get bought. Denise remained silent. Harold looked directly at Maya.
I hired you to protect my case. Don't ask me to help the other side remove you from it. Maya held his gaze. You understand what staying with us may mean? I understand what leaving would mean.