Page 10 of Possess

She looked up to see Zeke, Lara, and Colby staring at her. Maybe she was transparent. “Fine. It was my boss. I need to head back to my office.”

“Thanks for everything,” Lara said.

“It’s my job. But it looks really good, Lara,” Allyson said.

“I’ll walk you to your truck,” Zeke said as he cupped her elbow.

“It’s not necessary.”

“It is to me.” He guided her out of the shop and to the café parking lot where her truck sat.

“Is there another parking lot?” she asked. That could be an issue with the expansion of the café.

“Yes, on the other side of the ice cream shop and another lot behind the building.” His smile made the day a bit brighter. “I made sure there was plenty of parking.”

“Good man.” She stopped beside her truck. “I guess I’ll see you when I see you.”

“Sooner rather than later, I hope.”

Not sure what to make of his words, Allyson climbed into her truck and drove off. She waved at Colby and Lara as she drove past the café. Would she ever have a relationship as loving as theirs? She doubted it.

* * * *

“Is this a good time, Wes?” Allyson popped her head inside her boss’ office within minutes of her returning to the main office.

“Come on in.” He gestured to the chairs in front of his desk.

Allyson liked her boss. Wes had worked in the city planner’s office for twenty years, and he knew most of the jobs inside out. She’d started in the permit office when she was twenty-three and worked her way up.

“How did the walk-though for the new admin building go this morning with Riggs Construction?”

“Perfect. Everything was in order and done to specifications, as always, so I don’t see any reason why the move-in date has to change. But that’s not why you called me in here.” Allyson folded her hands in her lap.

“No. Look, I’m going to say it. Rudy is making noise about you always getting paired up with Riggs Construction.”

Allyson shook her head. “Since Rudy and I are your only certified inspectors for the city, of course we’re going to work with the same company a lot. Rudy is usually tied up with Starr Builders when a Riggs Construction job request comes in. Besides, he recently did the bookstore, and the jobs are assigned to us. We don’t get to pick and choose.”

“I know.” Wes sighed. “I’ve told Rudy it’s a matter of who is available at the time. I wanted to give you a heads up: He’s making a ruckus again.”

“It’s not like Rudy is quiet about his opinions.” She’d heard him often enough in the break room, which was why she chose to take her lunch elsewhere.

“Right. If you have any issues with anyone, including Rudy, I want to know. I know you like to handle things yourself, but Allyson, I don’t want Rudy to think he can start rumors without justification and get away with it.”

“I will. Thanks, Wes.” Allyson stood and walked out of his office and back to hers.

Rudy had come into the city planner’s office two years after her. She’d been lucky to get one of the inspector jobs at twenty-six, compared to Rudy at thirty-eight. He hated that she had seniority on him in the office—and because she was a woman. Oh, yes, he’d said that to her face two years ago.

Technically, she could have taken it to Wes and HR and filed a complaint. She probably should have, but instead, she addressed it herself. Since then, Rudy had been out to get her.

In her office, Allyson sat down and logged into her computer. Since she was here, she might as well start on her paperwork. As she was inputting numbers, she realized that some of her last entries had been changed.

Odd. Maybe she’d put in the wrong information. She unlocked her file drawer and pulled out the file. Nope, the file had the right numbers. This didn’t make sense. She matched up her handwritten information with that in the computer.

What the heck? She corrected all the incorrect information and saved it. Then she closed out the file and reopened it. The information didn’t change. Okay, that was odd.

Shrugging, she submitted the new information on the county building and then input everything from today’s meeting with Zeke at Lara’s café expansion. When she finished, she checked her email.

Three new jobs, all from Zeke’s company with a note stating Rudy had said he was too busy to take them on. She printed out the emails and made files for each. Monday, she’d call Zeke and set up appointments with him.

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