Chapter Seven: The Test
That night, Lena found a folded orange safety cone at the edge of her driveway.
Someone had cut the reflective band from its middle.
She checked the street before bringing it indoors.
A few minutes later, Ben knocked on her door.
He looked embarrassed and kept glancing toward Celia’s house.
“I think you should know what she asked me,” he said.
Lena invited him inside.
Ben explained that Celia had offered him cash to park his delivery van beside Lena’s driveway at dawn.
She wanted the vehicle positioned where it would block the view from the street.
“Did she explain why?” Lena asked.
“She said an inspector needed privacy to test a hazard.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I said no.”
Ben rubbed his forehead.
“Then she told me I was letting the whole neighborhood down.”
Lena showed him the photograph of the cord beside the fence.
Ben stared at it for a long time.
“My daughter rides her scooter there,” he said.
“I know.”
“I thought she was just trying to boss everybody around.”
“So did I at first.”
Ben asked what Lena intended to do.
“Keep people away from the driveway until we understand the plan,
” she said.
“And make sure the people who need to know are told.”
Chapter Eight: The Woman at the Door
A stranger arrived at Lena’s porch just after noon.
She wore a dark jacket and carried a slim clipboard.
“I’m Harriet Vale,” she said.
“Celia Brant asked me to assess your exterior access.”
Lena remained in the doorway.
“What qualifications do you have?”
Harriet named a private training course and offered a laminated card.
Lena read the card without taking it.
“Are you licensed to perform a structural inspection?”
“This is a preliminary visual review.”
“Then you can review the house from the public sidewalk.
”
Harriet glanced past Lena toward the rear gate.
“We were told there is an immediate hazard near the shed.”
“Who told you?”
“Mrs. Brant.”
“Has she shown you the hazard?”
“Not personally.”
Lena stepped onto the porch and shut the door behind her.
“Would you put that statement in writing?”
Harriet’s expression changed.
“I don’t want to become part of a dispute.”
“Then you should know you were invited into one.”
Lena showed her the photographs of the gravel, the ladder, and the cord.
Harriet stared at the images.
“I was told you installed that line yourself,” she said.
“I didn’t.
”
Harriet lowered the clipboard.
“I think I need to speak with my supervisor.”
She left without entering the yard.
