“Can you tell me about George Hartwell’s current licensing status?” Charlie asked.
That question made Jack’s heart sink.Why would she need to ask that?
“I understand. One more question. The property owner called your office a week ago to report that the required repairs had been completed. He was told an inspector would be sent out within one to two weeks. Can you verify that the notification was received and logged?”
Charlie was quiet for a long moment, her pen moving rapidly across her notepad.
“I see.” Her voice had gone very calm. Too calm. “And what is the current status of the property’s operating permit?”
Jack felt his hands start to shake. He gripped the arms of his chair.
“They don’t have anyone available until when?” Charlie’s eyes met Jack’s, and he saw something there that terrified him. “I see. Thank you for your time.”
She ended the call and set her phone down carefully on the desk.
“Charlie,” Jack said, his voice coming out hoarse. “What did they say?”
Charlie took a breath. “Jack, tell me exactly what happened. From the beginning. Two months ago, when you first got the permits.”
“Two months ago, I filed for the renovation permits,” Jack said. “The city sent an inspector out. Just standardprocedure for major work. The inspector found all the issues we already knew about. The old termite damage that had never been properly repaired. The electrical system that was outdated. Plumbing problems. He documented everything.”
“And you were given a deadline in which to fix everything?” Charlie prompted.
“I was given sixty days to complete the major safety repairs,” Jack confirmed. “Electrical, plumbing, and structural issues. Then I had to notify the city when the work was done so they could schedule a follow-up inspection.”
“And you did notify them?” Charlie was jotting points down on her notepad.
“Yes,” Jack said firmly. “A week ago. I called the building department and told them I had finished all the major repairs on their list. They said they’d send someone out within a week or two.”
Charlie made a note. “Who did you speak to?”
“I don’t remember the name,” Jack admitted. “It was just whoever answered the phone at the building department.”
“And how did George Harwell get involved?” Her eyes narrowed as she watched him intently. Giving him the uncomfortable feeling that he was under interrogation.
“The day after I made that call,” Jack said. “George called me and said he was coming to do the inspection the next day. I was relieved. George has been doing construction work in St. Augustine for decades. Everyone knows him.”
“During that phone call, what exactly did George say?” Charlie asked.
Jack thought back. “He said he was scheduled to do the inspection and asked if the next day worked for me. I said yes, and then I asked him if he still did property assessments. I explained that we were behind schedule on the last three rooms and I wasn’t sure about the extent of the damage from the old flood.”
“What did George say to that?” Charlie was writing as she asked, her eyes on her notes.
“He said he didn’t do assessments officially anymore, but he’d make an exception for me,” Jack said. “As a favor. He’d look at those rooms when he came to do the inspection.”
“And the next day he came here?” Charlie’s eyes met his.
Jack had to force himself not to squirm at her intense stare. Like she could see right through him. Reminding him of when he was a kid and his mother would grill him for doing something wrong.
“Yes. George spent hours here. He went through everything. Checked all the electrical work, the plumbing, everything on the city’s list. Then he looked at Rooms Nine, Ten, and Eleven.” Jack answered.
“And then what happened?” Charlie asked.
“The day after that, George emailed me his report,” Jack said. “The one you sent yourself. It was an official report stating that everything passed. All our repairs were up tocode. And those three rooms were structurally sound. They just needed cosmetic work.”
Charlie was quiet for a moment, studying her notes. Then she looked up at Jack. “Jack, according to the city’s records, George Hartwell’s inspection license was revoked a year ago. He’s not a registered inspector anymore.”
Jack felt like he’d been punched. “That’s not possible. George has been doing this for thirty years.”
