“She cut them.”
Silence.
“How many?”
“Twelve.”
“All on your parcel?”
“Yes.”
“Pictures?”
“Already.”
“Video?”
“Yes.”
“Contractor information?”
“Yes.”
Paul exhaled slowly.
“Do not send Vanessa another message tonight.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because angry clients create discovery exhibits.”
That almost made me smile.
The arborist came the next morning.
He documented each stump.
Species.
Diameter.
Condition.
Age estimate.
Former screening function.
Noise mitigation.
Replacement considerations.
He also reviewed Neil Parker’s earlier report confirming the trees had been healthy.
That mattered.
Vanessa would not be able to say she believed she was removing dangerous trees.
Then I called county planning.
That call changed the practical side of everything.
Six months earlier, Mercer Marine Works had submitted an expansion plan.
Business had been growing.
We were fabricating larger dock systems, more custom aluminum frames, and heavier boat-lift assemblies.
Working outdoors had become increasingly inefficient.
Rain delayed welding.