Read Online The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots by Loretta Hill - Free Book Online Page B

enjoyable lifestyle had led to too many missed tutorials, hungover presentations and very very late assignments. She was stressed and anxious. She’d tried talking to some of the other students in her class about it but it hadn’t really helped. She had too much to catch up on. Her schedule was insane and she finally threw herself at the mercy of her teachers. They were mostly unsympathetic, showed her where to watch podcasts of their lectures, reminded her which textbook chapters to focuson, but in general just wished her luck. It was her Structural Analysis professor, Whiteman, who really helped.
    He’d been easy enough to approach as he packed up his laptop and turned off the projector. He smiled at her in a way that made her feel at ease, comfortable. When she asked him stilted questions he was patient and kind.
    ‘Don’t worry, you’ll get it,’ he said. ‘We’ll make sure you get it.’ He zipped up his computer bag and rested his forearms either side of the handle, an indulgent expression crinkling the corners of his eyes. ‘Tell you what, why don’t you stop by my office tomorrow evening? I’ve got some time. We can go over it again . . . slower.’
    She’d been so grateful. So relieved. ‘That’s great, Professor Whiteman. I’d really appreciate that.’
    ‘Not a problem. See you then. And please, call me Kevin.’

When Lena arrived at work the following morning, someone had erected a flag beside the driveway leading up to the office dongas. She didn’t know how Gavin’s crew had managed to get a Barnes Inc flag on such short notice but it was definitely the genuine article. Of course, the pole wasn’t a cylindrical section but a length of angle which had obviously been spare. The flag itself was bolted on instead of strung so it couldn’t be raised up or down. It was a permanent flying fixture, no doubt a pro rather than a con. Lena shook her head as she walked past the monstrosity, certain it was twice the size of its counterpart at TCN.
    Gavin pounced on her when she walked in, his expression hopeful, like a dog waiting to be thrown a bone.
    ‘So,’ he demanded, ‘what do you think?’
    ‘Of what?’ She feigned ignorance.
    ‘ The flag. ’
    ‘What flag?’ she countered. ‘Didn’t see it.’
    ‘What!’
    ‘Gavin, I’m kidding.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘You’d have to be half blind not to see that thing. It’s huge.’
    ‘You better bloody believe it.’ He shook his pen at her and returned to his work station.
    With a sigh, Lena dumped her backpack on her own desk and went to find Carl. He was on the phone as usual.
    ‘Fuck that! Do something about it! I’ve got a fuckin’ flagpole out my window that’s straighter than your fuckin’ pile caps.’ He slammed down the receiver and glared at her. ‘What do you want?’
    ‘Sorry to interrupt you,’ Lena began. ‘I just wanted to know what my schedule is.’
    ‘You what ?’
    Uh-oh. Hit a nerve.
    He stood up and crooked his finger. ‘Come with me.’
    Lena swallowed, chewing on her lower lip as she followed him. He took her to meet Harry, a thin guy with greasy hair and a tendency towards acne. She’d seen him around but hadn’t yet had a chance to talk to him. He was the quiet sort and kept to himself.
    ‘Harry does all the scheduling here,’ Carl informed her. ‘Every fuckin’ task has a date on it. Doesn’t it, Harry?’
    Harry nodded shyly and Lena was moved to give him a reassuring smile.
    Carl continued, unaffected. ‘How far behind are we on piling, Harry?’
    ‘Five per cent.’
    ‘Steel girder fabrication?’
    ‘Three per cent.’
    ‘Truss fabrication?’
    ‘Five per cent.’
    ‘NDT testing?’
    ‘Ten per cent.’
    ‘Headstock installation?’
    ‘Ten per cent.’
    ‘Okay, okay!’ Lena held up her hands. ‘I get the point, we’re running late.’
    ‘Running late!’ Carl practically snarled. ‘If we were a football team, we’d be the fuckin’ Dockers.’
    Out of the corner of her eye,