The Homewreckers(106)

“Tell me what?” Hattie asked.

“Uh, well, Trae wanted me to get the ceiling in here Sheetrocked right away this morning, because he said Cass is going to call for an inspection, and the thing is, I found something that’s not so good.”

“Like what?”

“Like I was telling Tug, those old ship’s lanterns up there, the way they’re wired, they’d never pass inspection.”

“Why not?” Hattie asked.

“Climb up that ladder there and take a look for yourself,” Tug said, his jaw tensed.

He gave her a boost onto the counter and she climbed to the top of the stepladder, peering up at the ceiling.

“What am I supposed to be looking at?” she asked.

“Look at how those lanterns are wired,” Tug said. “You see what’s missing?”

Hattie craned her neck and immediately saw the problem.

“There’s no junction box here,” Hattie called down. “That’s not right.”

“No shit,” Tug said. “Look closer. Can you see the scorch marks where those wires have sparked?”

“Oh God,” Hattie said. “This thing is totally jury-rigged. It’s a fire hazard.”

“You bet your ass it is,” Tug said. “Climb on down here. We need to talk.”

Hattie leaned against the island, surveying the work that had been accomplished in the kitchen. The painters had worked miracles here, repainting the smoke-damaged cabinets and installing the new ones. Cabinet doors were stacked against the walls, ready to be installed.

“Pete, tell Hattie what you told me,” Tug directed.

“Well, uh, when I was in here earlier, taking measurements to start hanging the Sheetrock, I noticed how those lantern things were wired up there. I mean, I’m no electrician, but I been around construction a long time, and I knew that wasn’t right. Especially when I saw those scorch marks,” the carpenter said. “I told Erik, one of the electrical helpers, about it, and he said Trae told him to wire those lanterns that way. He said there was no time to go back to town to get more junction boxes, because we need to get the ceiling dried in before inspection.”

Hattie felt sick, even sicker than she had when she’d awoken on the sofa that morning.

“Thanks, Pete,” Tug said. “We’ll put off the Sheetrock in here until after Erik comes back and wires those lanterns properly. I sent him into town to pick up some junction boxes.”

“Okay,” Pete said. “I think Cass wants me in one of those upstairs bedrooms then.”

When he’d gone, Tug crossed his arms over his chest. He was dressed in his favorite worn denim overalls, with pencil stubs sticking out of the bib pockets. “This ain’t right, Hattie.”

She sighed. “I know. I’ll speak to Trae about it. He’s just in a rush, because the fire put us so far behind. Is that why you came out here this morning?”

“Yeah. Cass called me as soon as Pete pointed out those fixtures to her. She said maybe you wouldn’t listen to her, because you and Trae are kinda, what do they call it? Hooking up?”

Hattie’s cheeks burnt with the shame of being called out by her father-in-law. She’d known him since her teen years, and his approval then, and now, meant more than she could explain to herself. She was a grown-ass woman, for God’s sake, but feeling the sting of the old man’s ire still made her want to crawl in a hole and hide.

“We are not hooking up. And of course I would have listened to Cass. She’s the job foreman. I want things done right. You know that about me, Tug.”

“I used to know it about you, but now I’m not so sure,” he said. “I don’t care if it’s a TV show. We can’t have shoddy work on one of our jobs. It’s our reputation on the line, not that TV guy, and not Trae what’s-his-name.”

“I hear you,” Hattie said. “I’ll speak to Trae.”

“You better talk to your friend Cass, too,” Tug said. “You guys have been friends for too long to let some slick California creep come between you.”

“I will,” she said wearily. “Now, what else?”

“I don’t know yet,” he said. “I’m gonna walk all over this job, checking and double-checking.” He shook his head and started to leave the room. “Oh yeah. Zenobia called. She says there’s a woman waiting in the office to see you.”

“Who is it? I’m not planning to go to the office, and I’m not expecting to meet anybody there.”

“She wouldn’t give Zen her name, just said she knew you’d want to talk to her.”





56

The Ring of Truth, Again




“Hattie Mae!” Leetha caught up with her as she was walking out the kitchen door.

Hattie swung around to face the showrunner. “What now?”

“Whoa,” Leetha said, taking a step backward. “Who peed in your Cheerios?”

“Nobody. I’m just … having a morning,” Hattie said. “What’s our shooting schedule like today?”

“That’s what I want to talk to you about. We need to get your crew busy on the rear of the house, get all that siding finished, because we want to start shooting back there. And hey, what’s happening with that nasty old septic tank pit? That thing gives me the willies every time I walk past it.”