Three days after that second entry, the file showed the repair work as completed and signed off.

Yet, strangely, the record was missing the required contractor identification number.

Mrs.

Gable leaned closer to the bright monitor, frowning at the blank field.

“Now that’s very odd.”

“Why is that unusual?” I asked.

“Every official county work order requires the registered name of the maintenance crew or contracted firm that did the work,” she explained.

“Leaving that field blank is completely against protocol.”