； they really botched it。〃
〃〃They' being the people who put that parking lot so close to the
cliff。？〃
Chloe sighed。 〃It's begun to erode already； and the locals want to sue。
According to my calculations； they have a case。〃
〃Will you be called in to testify？〃
〃I'm not sure。 I have to work this report up into some kind of written
form。 Depending on what happens when they read it； whether or not the
matter can be settled first； it may not make it to court。〃 She sat back。
〃It's a shame that we seem to learn things after the fact。 If only those
developers had gotten a geologist to advise them at the start。〃
Debbie smiled。 〃You make a good crusader。 I wish I could present my case
as well as you do。〃
〃I wish I could handle those puters as well as you do；〃 Chloe
returned。 〃e on。 Let's take a look at your statistics。〃
They spent the next half hour reviewing the work Debbie had done。
Between them； they came up with a plan of attack on both the sinkhole in
question and the people in a position to do something about it。 Suitably
buoyed； and with her work cut out for her； Debbie left。 She was replaced
moments later by a slightly groggy…looking Josh Anderson。
Chloe grinned。 〃Late night last night？〃
〃Don't you know it；〃 Josh murmured。 〃But I have to discuss this
curriculum guide with you。 If the preliminaries are all right； I'd like