Counterpunch

"You spent so much energy trying to knock us down," Elias said calmly, leaning against the ropes. "You forgot to keep your guard up."

"That’s the thing about a counterpunch," Elias’s trainer, Pops, whispered from the corner. "It’s not about being stronger. It’s about letting the other guy’s momentum do the work for you."

But the real "counterpunch" didn't happen in the ring. It happened two weeks later.

His face went pale. Inside were high-resolution photos of Vane meeting with the very city council members who had approved the zoning change—taken at a private club where no business was supposed to be conducted. Along with the photos was a detailed ledger of "consultation fees" paid from Vane’s shell companies.