CHAPTER TEN Q: THE CUSTOMER AT THE COUNTER
The diner was nearly empty when a woman wearing a city maintenance jacket ordered tea and sat near the window.
She watched Nora work for several minutes before asking whether she was the waitress involved in the theater campaign.
Nora said that she was helping some of the volunteers.
The woman introduced herself as Grace Morrow, a former municipal electrician.
She had maintained emergency lighting at the theater during its final years of operation.
Nora asked whether Grace had spoken with Celia.
Grace said that she had tried to reach the inspection team but had been passed between offices.
She carried no secret documents and claimed no dramatic revelation.
She wanted someone to understand why she had objected to reopening the building quickly.
Grace described a series of temporary repairs made during the theater’s final season.
The building’s owners had postponed a full electrical replacement because the theater was expected to close.
She had disconnected one unsafe circuit and placed warning labels on the distribution panel.
A later crew had restored part of the circuit to power a rehearsal room.
Grace did not know who had authorized the restoration.
She feared that volunteers might assume the system was safe because some lights still worked.
Nora asked whether she could explain the issue to Imani directly.
Grace hesitated because she did not want to be accused of helping the redevelopment company.
Nora said that warning people about a dangerous circuit was not a political position.
Grace looked relieved and agreed to meet the committee.
The following morning, Imani invited her to speak with Celia and a licensed electrician.
The electrician confirmed that the affected circuits required testing before any use.
Imani ordered the volunteers to stop plugging equipment into the building’s old outlets.
Hugo complained that the restriction would delay the cleanup schedule.
Grace answered that an empty theater could survive another week without lights.
A person injured by a preventable electrical fault might not recover so easily.
Peter thanked her for speaking plainly.
Grace looked at him and said that she wished someone had listened to her sooner.
Peter answered that they were listening now.
The committee adjusted its repair estimate upward that afternoon.
Nora watched Imani erase the old total from the board without trying to disguise the cost.
The new number frightened everyone.
Nobody suggested ignoring it.
CHAPTER TEN R: THE MAN WHO LEFT THE STAGE
