Scott Cowan stood outside the gate with another man Jared didn’t recognize. The new man was short and balding and wore a black cowboy hat. His uniform khakis stretched over ornate red and black leather cowboy boots.
Cowan called over to Jared as they approached. “This is an authorized inspection, you have to let us in.”
“Now is not a good time, Scott.”
“This is my supervisor, Garrison Fields.” Cowan motioned at the new man.
Jared shook his hand through the gate. “Nice to meet you.” Like hell. “But we have some extreme circumstances here, you understand. The tornado did some dam—”
“That’s precisely why we’re here.” Garrison’s thick drawl made it sound like “pray-sizely.” “Some, ah, concerned citizens have called the office. We need to ascertain the safety of your housing units, son.” A
