I don't think the premise is too outlandish, as long as the story unfolds to reveal some sort of high-level conspiracy (which I think it does/will). The suggestion that Stern and even the judge might be in on it is interesting.
What doesn't work great for me is the characters' reactions to the closing. I'd expect anger, confusion, disbelief; but there seems to be a lot of depression and nonchalance and "guess I'll have to find a new job." Rather than having a bunch of employees just wander away, it might be interesting to have someone decide that Perry must have been planning this for months, and lead a cavalry off to do their own investigation. I'd expect especially a lot of the non-reporter staff-people to follow.
Interesting little mystery, though!
