Thursday morning, Maya printed a petition.
To Franklin Holdings: We, the undersigned tenants, reject the proposed rent increase of 15%. The building has not received necessary repairs. The heat is inadequate. The water pressure is low. The locks are broken. We demand a reduction in rent until these issues are addressed.
She printed fifty copies.
Then she went door to door.
Mr. Delgado signed. Jasmine signed. Marco signed. The Kims didn't answer. The Parkers didn't answer.
But three new tenants signed. A woman in 5A who kept to herself. A man in 2C who worked two jobs. A young couple in 6B who had just moved in.
Nine signatures. Not twelve. But close.
She took the petition to Vanessa's office. The lawyer reviewed it and made a few changes.
"I'll send this to the landlord today," Vanessa said. "Certified mail. He has thirty days to respond."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Then we take him to housing court."
Maya nodded. "What about the eviction?"
"The building still hasn't sold. I checked with the city. The sale is pending. But it could fall through."
"How?"
"If the buyer gets cold feet. If the inspection finds problems. If the tenants make enough noise."
"Then we make noise."
Vanessa smiled. "That's the spirit."
---
At 6 PM, Maya went to the roof.
Leo was there. The easel was still set up. The painting was still unfinished.
"You're back," he said.
"I'm back."
She sat on the milk crate. He picked up his brush.
"Don't move," he said.
She didn't.
He painted for an hour. The sky darkened. The city lights came on.
When he finished, he turned the easel toward her.
The painting had changed. Her face was still blurred. But now there was something else. A second figure. Standing in the background. Watching.
"Who is that?" she asked.
"You tell me."
She looked at the figure. It could have been anyone. Mr. Chen. Marco. Mrs. Patterson. Her father.
"It's whoever n
eeds to see it," she said.
Leo nodded. "That's what I hoped."