The public records clerk put two documents on the counter and kept a finger between them.
“This is the funding recommendation,” she said. “This is the agency’s postponement.”
Eli read the first page. Aegis support for the additional inspection had been reduced. The revised allocation favored another gate infrastructure task. On the second page, the water authority had deferred its scheduled inspection and cited staffing and available funds.
“So they cut the inspection,” he said.
“The agency postponed it.”
“After Aegis withdrew the money.”
“Yes. The recommendation influenced the resources. It isn’t an order signed by Rook directing the authority to stop.”
He looked at the two signatures. The distinction did not make the funding decision harmless. It did prevent him from turning a trail through two offices into one hand reaching straight from Rook to the dam.
