Chapter 61: The False Review
A sudden series of negative online reviews appeared under Northline’s name.
Several described events that never happened, including claims that our staff demanded access to customers’ private phones.
One review accused us of selling images to an outside data broker.
I could not dismiss every complaint simply because the timing seemed suspicious.
We checked the work orders and asked the platform to verify whether the reviewers had used our services.
Some reviews came from genuine customers who were frightened by the news and wanted answers.
Others had no matching appointment or documented interaction.
We responded publicly with a short statement about our independent review and secure reporting channel.
We did not publish customer names or argue with anonymous accounts.
The platform removed several reviews that violated its policies, but many remained.
I felt a surge of anger whenever I read a statement that was clearly false.
Leah suggested limiting my review of the website to a scheduled period each day.
I followed her advice and assigned a trained customer-service employee to gather legitimate concerns for a weekly meeting.
The change reduced my anxiety without hiding criticism.
More importantly, customers began receiving answers from people whose job was to help rather than from an exhausted owner defending himself at midnight.
Chapter 62: The Mechanic’s Workshop
Arthur invited Sophie and me to visit his restoration workshop one Saturday.
His granddaughter Renee was preparing a display about vintage engines for a school exhibition.
The garage smelled of clean metal, old leather, and coffee.
Arthur showed Sophie a set of tools he had made during his apprenticeship.
Renee explained how a small mistake in measuring an engine part could cause problems much later.
Sophie asked whether the restored coupe was still for sale.
Arthur said he had postponed the auction while he corrected the false listings.
He was disappointed but had decided not to rush the process.
Renee admitted that she felt guilty because the college tuition plan had been delayed.
Arthur shook his head.
“A car can wait,” he told her.
“Your education isn’t a debt you owe me.”
I watched Sophie study the tools with unusual concentration.
She asked whether Arthur would let her hold a torque wrench.
He guided her hands and explained how it worked.
On the drive home, Sophie said she wanted to learn more about mechanical engineering.
I offered to find a weekend class.
She asked whether her interest surprised me.
“Not at all,” I answered.
“You grew up around people who like solving problems.
”
Her smile reminded me that the case had not stolen every good thing from the year.
