“Sarah Granger,” she muttered. “State Redevelopment Liaison.”
He blinked. “A what?”
“It’s a state-level consultant that oversees the county’s projects,” she said. “But mostly she just sticks her nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Sarah glanced around the site and then walked over with a practiced smile, like a politician’s smile, on her face. “Lainey, I was in the area and thought I’d stop by.” She looked around the site. “This is quite the undertaking.”
“Yes, it is,” Lainey said coolly. “What brings you here? I didn’t realize you made surprise visits.”
“Oh, sometimes it’s good to get out and see what’s happening on the ground.” She turned her gaze to Finn and gave him a once-over.
“Hi. Sarah Granger. And you are?” She extended her hand to shake.
Finn stepped forward and shook her hand. “Finn Ryder. Security.”
Sarah gave him a cheeky smile, stepped back, and looked at Lainey. “I heard that there’ve been problems here and you hired security.”
“We’re back on track,” Lainey replied tightly.
“Hmm, good to know.” She gave them a tight nod. “If you don’t mind, I’ll just take a quick look around. Strictly off the record, of course.”
“Of course.”
Lainey watched her walk away, tension radiating off her shoulders. “As if this day could get any worse,” she huffed. “Sarah’s here to dig. God, I hope she doesn’t find anything. I’m not sure I can handle any more drama today.”
Sarah made a show of looking around before waving and getting back into her car.
“That was interesting,” said Finn.
Lainey exhaled loudly. “She’s just getting started. Rumor has it Sarah was pulling for another developer.”
They stood in silence for a moment.
Finn took a deep breath. “Lainey…”
CRACK.
It sounded like a gunshot. Lainey ducked.
Then another sharpsnap.
“Clear out,” someone yelled.
A worker on the second tier of the scaffolding stumbled back just as a stack of boards shifted sideways. The top corner of the scaffold twisted and collapsed.
Lumber crashed to the ground. One man went down, clutching his leg, shouting in pain.
Finn was already moving. He sprinted across the lot, dragging the injured worker clear as the dust settled around them.
Lainey was right behind him.
“Call 911,” Gus roared from somewhere near the office trailer as he raced over.
It was chaos. Shouts. Dust. Sirens already whining in the distance.
Travis stoodby the old warehouse they were renovating well out of the main line of sight but close enough to see everything. The first crack didn’t surprise him.
He didn’t flinch. Didn’t shout. Didn’t run.
