Chapter 10 - The Offer
Ryan's lawyer offered a clean divorce, a cash settlement, and a letter clearing my name with the engineering board. All I had to do was sign a statement saying the reports had been part of an "informal joint business arrangement" and withdraw my accusations about intentional fraud.
"He wants you to take responsibility without using that word," Sofia said.
"Then the answer is no."
The lawyer's next email called me emotional and unreasonable. Sofia forwarded it to the investigators.
At the same time, Imani received notice that Harbor Structural's insurance provider wanted a formal review of our credential controls. A hospital expansion project was placed on hold. Seven employees asked privately whether their jobs were safe.
I sat with Imani after everyone went home. Through the office window, the lights of Ashford shimmered on the river.
"If I step away, maybe the clients will stop worrying," I said.
"You already stepped away from signing while we investigate," Imani replied. "That's responsible. Quitting won't change who committed the fraud."
"Our people didn't choose this."
"Neither did you."
She slid a sheet of paper toward me. It was an old drawing from our first office, back when we worked out of a room above a bakery and borrowed folding chairs for meetings. We had named the firm Harbor because we wanted to build things people could depend on.
"I'm not letting Ryan rewrite that," she said.
A county investigator called minutes later with news about the seventh house. Its permit was under a different contractor name, but payments led back to a company account connected to Diane. There was no engineering certification in the public file. Someone had apparently signed one for a private lender instead.
"The owners are living there," he said. "And the river forecast is getting worse."
May you like
I pulled up the address. It was a small house on Quarry Lane, two blocks from the water. I knew the street.
My father's oldest friend lived next door.
