Rachel found June at the laundromat that evening.
June was folding towels with one hand and reviewing the list of damaged appliances with the other.
She had crossed out several entries because a plumber had confirmed they were unrelated to the pressure changes.
Rachel was impressed.
“You’re being more careful than the company was,” she said.
June shrugged.
“I don’t want them dismissing the things that are true because I blamed them for everything.”
Rachel sat beside her.
“The company is speaking at a county showcase on Saturday.”
“Then I’ll go.”
“We need more than anger.”
June looked at the laundry turning behind the glass.
“I’ve lived here forty years,” she said.
“I can bring a little more than anger.”
She opened her notebook and showed Rachel names beside dates and precise descriptions of what each household had experienced.
June had begun gathering details the night of the library meeting.
The list included residents who had never joined the association and whose complaints Carol had never heard.
Rachel recognized several older people who rarely left home.
“How did you reach them?”
“I knocked,” June said.
“I took my time and waited for them to answer.”
For the first time in two days, Rachel laughed.
June looked pleased.
“That method still works,” she said.
CHAPTER EIGHT — A COMPANY CAR AT MIDNIGHT
Friday brought a hard rain that turned the repaired trench beside Rachel’s house into a shallow brown channel.
The temporary fix held, but Rachel could not stop listening for every small change in her pipes.
At nine that night, Eli called her from an unfamiliar number.
His voice shook.
“Somebody from ClearMeasure told me the last units have to be recovered before the county showcase.”
Rachel stepped into the hallway for privacy.
“Recovered how?”
“They sent crews to houses on the list,” Eli said.
“They want the equipment gone so nobody can test it.”
Rachel leaned against the wall.
“Have you told Lena?”
“I left a message.”
“Then call the utility emergency number and tell them someone may be accessing private service lines without authorization.”
“I did.”
“Good.”
Eli hesitated.
“I should have said something weeks ago.”
“Yes,” Rachel replied.
“You should have.”
He accepted that without arguing.
“Can I do anything now?”
“Give inspectors every address you know and stay away from anybody asking you to destroy evidence.”
Eli promised he would.
