Nolan’s attorney proposed mediation over the property damage.
Mara explained that a civil agreement could address reimbursement without requiring me to make statements about the federal inquiry.
The initial offer covered only part of the repair cost.
It also contained a broad confidentiality clause and a release extending to unrelated parties.
I rejected those terms.
The revised proposal narrowed the release to the documented property damage claim and offered a payment schedule with security for the unpaid balance.
My insurer’s rights had to be addressed as well.
Mara coordinated the details so that no one received duplicate compensation for the same loss.
I did not care about winning a dramatic negotiation.
I wanted a working roof and a written arrangement that could be enforced if Nolan failed to pay.
We continued discussions without promising a result.
Chapter 57: The Meeting in the Courthouse Hall
I saw Nolan for the first time in weeks during a procedural court appearance related to the vandalism complaint.
He looked thinner and older than he had on my ladder.
He stood beside his attorney and avoided my eyes.
The court addressed scheduling and procedural matters rather than deciding the entire case that day.
Afterward, his lawyer approached Mara to discuss restitution documentation.
Nolan remained several steps away.
He finally looked at me and said he was sorry for frightening Ellie.
The apology was specific, which made it harder to dismiss.
I told him that his actions had frightened both of us and caused substantial damage.
He nodded.
I did not say that I forgave him.
Forgiveness was not required for the legal process to continue.
Nor was anger a substitute for documented loss.
Chapter 58: The Grant Findings
Months after the first inspection, the administering agency published a determination questioning several Meridian expenditures and deployment certifications.
The notice described unsupported site completion claims and directed the company to respond to proposed financial adjustments.
Meridian challenged parts of the determination through available procedures.
The agency’s findings were more specific than the rumors circulating in Bellwether Ridge.
They identified categories of documentation that failed to support the claimed work.
They did not announce that every employee or contractor had committed a crime.
The report also explained that separate investigative matters remained outside the administrative decision.
Okafor called to say that my cooperation had been useful.
She could not discuss confidential evidence or predict any future prosecution.
I thanked her.
She reminded me to retain the records relevant to my own property claim.
After hanging up, I stared at the phone.
The two inspectors who had arrived at my door had not brought a magical answer.
They had brought questions that forced powerful people to account for specific claims.
That was enough.
