02/07/2026
Mace burst into the newsroom at 9:42 a.m.
Phone already streaming.
Red light glowing.
Ring light clipped to his shirt like a misplaced body cam.
He whisper-shouted at full volume.
“MaceTime News, live from the newsroom! Folks, we’ve got suspicious activity. Stay locked in—this is developing fast.”
Olivia was at her desk.
Quiet.
Focused.
Doing… something.
Mace immediately positioned himself directly behind her chair, leaning over her shoulder, camera zoomed tight on her hands.
“Look at this, chat. No eye contact. Hands moving too fast. She’s clearly covering something up. Classic evasion.”
Olivia didn’t look up.
“Mace.”
Her voice had the calm precision of someone removing a safety latch.
“Back.
Up.”
Mace pivoted back to the lens.
“She says that—but watch closely. She’s about to crack. The truth is seconds away.”
He swung the camera back to her screen.
“Whatever’s on here, it’s big. I can feel it.”
Olivia slowly turned her chair.
Looked directly into the camera.
“You are currently live-streaming me doing payroll.”
Mace beamed.
“Exactly! MaceTime News doesn’t hide from the people!”
Olivia stood up. Calm. Deliberate.
“If you don’t end this stream in the next five seconds,” she said pleasantly,
“I will explain to your viewers why your last expense report is flagged for fraud.”
Mace lowered the phone like it had just bitten him.
The stream ended.
Ten minutes later, a new sign appeared on the door:
NO MACETIME NEWS INDOORS
NO ZOOMING ON PEOPLE
MACE: GO FILM SQUIRRELS OR SOMETHING
Mace added a tiny 🔴 LIVE sticker next to his name anyway.
— CommunityBeat WV
