Dressed to Drill by Kate Carlisle

Author:Kate Carlisle [Carlisle, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2023-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

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* * *

Early the next morning, after picking up the keys from Eric, I met my team at the bottom of the church steps. We had a quick meeting and reaffirmed everyone’s assignments. I announced that I would begin working in the sacristy, and once it was completely empty, we would be able to deal with the excess layers of paint on that beautiful wood cabinet. Amanda would work with me.

Amanda nodded. “I’ll take a look at it, but right now, I’m more concerned about all the sun-bleached timbers and beams I’ve seen. I want to check their viability and make sure they haven’t rotted out or gone soft. We might have to replace some of them.”

“That’s critical,” Wade said.

“Absolutely,” I agreed. “We’ll schedule things accordingly. Thanks, Amanda.”

A horn honked, and I turned to see Carter Construction Company arrive with our articulated boom lift chained to the back of their flatbed truck, as promised.

Joe Carter waved to me. “I’ll get this thing off the truck as soon as you’re ready.”

“We’ll be taking it in through the side door, so I’m going to unlock everything first. Then we’ll be ready to move it off the truck.” I ran down the walkway and unlocked the doors, then jogged back to the front and waved at Joe. “We’re ready whenever you are.”

He gave me a thumbs-up, then flipped a switch inside the truck cab. Jumping out of the cab, he moved to the side of the truck, where a control panel was located, then pressed one of the levers to tilt the bed down until the end touched the ground.

I was relieved to know that the boom lift wasn’t going anywhere yet. It was still securely chained, strapped, and belted to the truck bed.

Wade joined Joe on the truck bed, where they unstrapped the tires. Then they shifted the boom lift into neutral and slowly unspooled the winch cable until the lift was safely on flat ground. Only then, when the cable was slack, did Joe unlatch it from the chassis.

“Thanks, Joe,” I said. “I appreciate you delivering it.”

“You’re the one who did us the favor, Shannon.” He glanced up at the church. “Should be an interesting job.”

“Oh yeah. It’s been interesting so far.”

He made a face. “I heard about the girl they found.”

I nodded grimly. “I’d prefer things not be quite so interesting.”

“Yeah,” he scoffed. “Good luck with that.”

I couldn’t say much in response, so I watched him tighten the cable in order to keep it from dangling off the side of the truck. I knew for a fact that the cops would pull a tow truck over if they saw that cable swinging freely.

Finally, Joe gathered up the straps and hooks, and arranged everything neatly in a box behind the cab. Then he took off.

By ten o’clock, we had everyone working at whatever station Wade had assigned them, including him and me.

Amanda was focused on the double doors at the front of the church to determine what would be needed to bring back their original luster.

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