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“Vandemark. Get in here.” He vanishes into his office.
Daniel is in charge of my paycheck, a paycheck I need very badly, since I refuse to touch the money in an account I set up after Dad’s trial. That money is for my brother’s rehabilitation. Those places aren’t cheap, and I’ll drain every dime out of it if it makes him better. I failed him once—I won’t fail him again. He’s the only family I have left.
Anyway, my paycheck. It’s all that stands between me and homelessness, so I tend to be more gracious to my boss than he deserves.
Amber whispers “good luck” as I leave her side and enter the lion’s den, aka Daniel’s office.
“Good morning.” I try to sound breezy.
“Not even close.” He’s pacing the floor, hands on his hips, frown marring his receding hairline. “Nathaniel Owen is a burr in my ass.”
That should be the motto of the Clear Ridge Bureau of Inspection.
“I need you to go to the Grand Marin site,” he tells me. “Owen’s crew is there today, and I have it on good authority he has a meeting with the mayor which means he’ll likely be onsite. I don’t care if the mayor is in Owen’s pocket. We are not. At least we aren’t any longer.” He mutters that last part while looking out the window facing the alley.
“Not Gary?” I can’t imagine a scenario where Gary would do anything short of aboveboard.
“Owen paid off Gary. He had to have.” Daniel’s face turns beet red. “That electrical inspection paperwork flew in here on wings for my approval. It was way too fast. Gary was bribed. Mark my words.”
I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but in this case Daniel makes a great point. Nothing happens fast in our little government bureau, and it’s particularly suspicious that Owen seems to make things happen at lightning speed compared to everyone else.
“Did Gary quit?”
“I fired him.” Daniel puffs up his chest, proud.
“Seriously?”
“No one at CRBI accepts bribes and remains on my payroll.” He ices me with a glare. “You’ll do well to remember that since you’re heading over there.”
My blood heats. I’d never accept a bribe. Especially one from a stubborn billionaire.
“We have a narrow window to teach Owen a lesson. You’re just the woman to do it.”
“I hope you understand that I will not falsify paperwork in order to shut him down, either. I respect your mission, Daniel, but I’m not going to stoop to Owen’s level.”
My boss’s grin is a tad creepy, but approving. “I know you won’t. All you have to do is ask Owen for proof of a passed electrical inspection. He won’t be able to show you one because he doesn’t have one—not legally, anyway. I never signed off on it. Therefore, you can shut him down.”
“Wouldn’t you be a better candidate?” I don’t do site visits. In my six months as chief desk jockey, I haven’t been to a single construction site. It’s part of my plan to lay low. If I’m not in charge of anything I can’t fuck it up. Not to mention I’d have no idea what to do once I got there. “We both know how much you’d enjoy nailing his ass to the wall.”
“More than you can imagine, but my schedule is full. Since Gary was fired, the next inspector in line handles their shit-show. Our other inspectors are busy, and frankly, I don’t want to wait another second. So, you get a raise. Congratulations. This project is a nightmare.”
Did he say raise? My ears perk. Despite wanting to lay low, an increase in my income would be nice. Given that I refuse to touch my brother’s and my nest egg, I have to keep the lights on at home somehow.
“If Owen isn’t there when you get there, let the site manager know you mean business.”
Nathaniel Owen has a reputation for completing projects on time, which is a rare and coveted quality in a builder. He also sidesteps rules and does things his way rather than follow the letter of the law. The city of Clear Ridge doesn’t take kindly to rule-benders, and Daniel hates them. Look at that, my boss and I have something in common.
“No problem,” I assure Daniel.
Maybe delivering justice will be cathartic. I can’t go back in time and keep my father in line, or recoup the money of the people who trusted him, but I can prevent Nathaniel Owen from lining his pockets with even more money. The Owen name is stamped on nearly every new build within a thousand miles. How much more can the guy possibly need?
That’s the thing about greed. It knows no bounds.
“I have a meeting in five minutes and they’ll probably keep me for the afternoon.” Daniel swipes his sweaty brow. He’s a good seventy pounds overweight and even on his tall frame, it’s too much girth. “Can I count on you not to fuck this up?”
I force a smile. His wasn’t the most wholehearted vote of confidence, but I’ll take it. “Of course.”
“He’s cocky, strong-willed and needs a knot tied in his tail,” Daniel says, not quite finished with his tirade. “You’re strong. Smart. The perfect candidate to take him on, Viv.” His voice gentles, and I feel an odd catch in my chest at the compliment.
