Chapter 3 - Cracks Behind the Roses
Catherine contacted Nathan Cho, a structural engineer who had reviewed her early calculations.
Nathan remembered the project well.
“Your roof design was conservative,” he said during their video call. “It could support the original chandelier safely.”
Catherine sent him the recent photographs.
Nathan became silent.
“They removed two columns?”
“It appears so.”
“Without changing the roof system?”
“I don’t know.”
Nathan leaned closer to the screen.
“If those photographs are accurate, the load distribution could be severely compromised.”
Catherine asked him to examine the other modifications. By midnight, Nathan had identified seven potential violations.
The most serious involved the ballroom ceiling.
The original renovation plan required steel reinforcement across the old timber roof. Construction photographs suggested that cheaper, lighter brackets had been used instead. Under normal conditions, they might hold temporarily. Under the weight of the chandelier, lighting equipment, and vibration from hundreds of guests, there was no guarantee.
Catherine called the town building department the following morning.
At first, the official sounded skeptical. The ballroom had already received approval.
Then Catherine provided document numbers and explained that the completed structure appeared different from the permitted plans.
The official requested evidence.
Catherine sent the original drawings, photographs, calculations, and archived emails.
Two days later, one of Richard’s former contractors called her.
His name was Luis Mendoza. He had supervised the early construction but had left the project after an argument with Richard.
“I heard someone was asking questions,” Luis said.
“Did my father change the materials?”
“He changed almost everything.”
Luis had saved photographs, invoices, and written instructions because Richard had refused to pay the final portion of his contract.
According to the records, Richard had reduced construction costs by nearly two million dollars. He substituted materials, removed structural supports, and paid a consultant to approve revisions without proper testing.
“Why didn’t you report it?” Catherine asked.
“I tried. Your father threatened to destroy my company.”
Catherine closed her eyes.
“Will you testify?”
May you like
Luis hesitated.
Then he said, “If someone finally stands up to him, yes.”
