Chapter 23: The Woman in the Blue Coat

Two days later, I saw Vivian outside the pharmacy.
She stood beside her SUV, talking to a woman in a blue wool coat.
When Vivian noticed me, she ended the conversation abruptly.
The woman turned and walked toward the pharmacy entrance.
I recognized her from the association’s annual picnic photographs.
Her name was Deborah Kline, and she managed the community’s contracted bookkeeping service.
I did not follow her.
I mentioned the encounter to Mara because Deborah’s company held records the audit firm was requesting.
Mara said there could be countless innocent reasons for the meeting.
I appreciated the reminder.
Suspicion had become so easy that I feared it might start replacing judgment.
That evening, Deborah called me unexpectedly.
She said Vivian had asked her to revise the description of several old transactions.
Deborah refused because she would not alter the original accounting entries without a documented correction process.
She wanted me to know that the records were being preserved.
I asked why she was telling me.
Her answer was almost a whisper.
“Because Vivian said you were alone,” she replied.
“She said you couldn’t afford to fight.”
I felt a sudden, unpleasant coldness.
Vivian had looked at my husband’s death, my child, and my financial limits and decided those things were weaknesses she could use.
Deborah promised to speak with the auditors directly.
I thanked her and ended the call.
Then I wrote down every word I could remember, including the fact that I could not verify Vivian’s alleged statement myself.

Chapter 24: The Repair Company Withdraws

My original solar installer, BrightCurrent Home Energy, prepared a repair estimate and ordered replacement panels.
Its owner, Luis Andrade, called me personally when the shipment was delayed.
He said that a manufacturer representative had received a warning claiming my address was involved in a federal fraud inquiry.
The warning advised vendors not to provide materials without special authorization.
Luis had asked for the identity of the person issuing the notice.
The sender used a consulting firm’s letterhead but provided no government agency or legal authority.
He forwarded the message to Mara.
The firm was called Northgate Compliance Advisors.
Its website described risk management and regulatory consulting but listed no current staff.
A public corporate filing connected it to a principal who had previously served as Meridian’s outside development director.
Luis refused to abandon the job.
He confirmed the correct safety and permitting requirements with the utility and continued scheduling the repairs.
“I don’t let anonymous letters decide whether my customers have roofs,” he said.
He sounded more annoyed than frightened.
I told him that I wished I had his certainty.
He laughed softly.
“I don’t have certainty,” he replied.
“I have a license and a contract, and those are enough to tell me what I’m supposed to do.”