Randall taps his clipboard to the side of his leg.
“Who’s going to be the new captain—in your place?” I ask.
“I’ve encouraged someone to apply. Applications officially open soon. You’ll be looped in when the position’s filled. Both of you,” David looks from Randall to me.
“Well,” Randall says. “We’d better get to it.”
“Good seeing you, Carli,” David says.
“You too.”
The air is warmer when we walk out into the parking lot behind the offices. Spring is making promises I hope she’ll keep.
We climb into Randall’s county vehicle and I buckle up.
Will Cody apply to be captain? Our jobs will overlap if he does.
I doubt Dustin will apply. But you never know. Patrick would make a good captain, but he’s got his podcast to juggle on his days off and he helps Daisy at the bookshop when he can. Greyson’s a good, strong leader, but he’s so reserved. I guess time will tell.
We drive across town to Judy’s Diner. Randall talks the whole way about being stern and firm and never giving in to the pressure townspeople put on you to cut them some slack.
He’s a pessimist. I’d love to say his doomsaying doesn’t get to me, but I’m starting to wonder what I’ve gotten myself into by the time we park in the parking lot and walk into Judy’s. The place is buzzing with locals, as always. The smell of syrup and bacon and the low murmur of conversation wraps through the room.
“Remember, you’re an inspector when you’re on the clock,” Randall says in a conspiratorial tone while the hostess leaves the front counter to go search for Judy. “Doesn’t matter if they were your favorite first grade teacher. If things aren’t up to code, it’s your job to tell them and to be sure they comply.”
I nod. Welcome to being Waterford’s most hated citizen. This was not what I imagined when I dreamt of code enforcement. Randall’s making it sound like people are going to be standing guard with whispers of “Here she comes, quick, duck!”
Judy walks out of the back, following the hostess to where Randall and I are standing.
“Randall,” she says cooly. Something tells me he’s earned that greeting.
Her tone warms when she looks at me. “Carli! Girl, it’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen you around here. Haveyou eaten? I heard you got the job. Good for you. Can I get you something to eat? On the house.”
“I ate breakfast, but I could …”
“No thank you, Judy,” Randall says, interrupting me. “Carli’s on the clock for the county and she doesn’t take kindly to bribery.”
Judy crosses her arms over her chest. “Oh, get over yourself. You know I wasn’t tryin’ to bribe anyone. It’s just been a while since I’ve seen Carli and I’d like to celebrate her new position. Why don’t you do everyone a favor and get the stick out of your patootie, Randall.”
I tuck my lips in and study the scuff marks on the tile floor.
Randall and Judy stare one another down for what feels like an eternity.
Finally he breaks and says, “We’re here to do your inspection.”
“So I figured,” Judy huffs. She looks at me. “Don’t worry, Carli, I won’t hold you accountable for anything this man says or does. You and I have known one another since you were born.”
Randall looks at me and cocks a brow. I placate him with a restrained smile.
“Let’s start with your smoke detectors,” Randall says, poising his clipboard and unclipping the pen.
Judy tours us through the restaurant, showing us where each extinguisher is mounted or stored and providing proof of their charge dates. Then she takes us to the two fire alarms. The stations are accessible. We walk toward the back door.
“Exit’s still marked like it’s always been,” she says in a bored tone.
Randall asks me what I see that’s a safety issue. I point to the boxes stacked in two towers, slightly blocking the backexit door. People could still move in and out, but in an emergency, they’d be a hindrance.
The smug smile Randall gives Judy sends me back to my childhood when I’d occasionally tattle on Jace just to get a rise out of him. My throat feels tight. Randall’s setting me up to snitch on Judy and he’s getting way too much satisfaction in the process.
