Desmond turned the drawing toward him and asked whether it was the set he had used. Matteo said it was. Desmond asked whether he had received anything newer. Matteo said no. Desmond opened the electronic issue log and showed Victor the timestamp for revision 9, then compared it with the sign out record for the field binder.
The new drawing had been issued electronically, but the printed copy had never been replaced. The error belonged to the document process, not the apprentice who followed the available plan. Desmond sat at the small desk and began correcting the responsibility section of the report. Every minute bothered him. He pictured Tessa looking toward the gym doors.
He pictured an empty chair. Still, he kept going. He attached the revision log, added the issue, timestamp identified the field document failure, and made certain Matteo's name appeared only as the installer who had followed the plan available to him. 18 minutes later, Desmond handed the corrected report to Victor. Send that version.
Victor read it once and nodded. Matteo looked at Desmond. You didn't have to stay for me. Desmond picked up his tool bag. If I know you didn't do it and still leave your name on there, then I'm part of it.
He left before Matteo could answer. The truck nearly refused to start. The first turn of the key produced nothing. The second made the engine cough. On the third, it finally caught.
Desmond pulled out of the lot and headed toward Tessa's school, checking the dashboard clock at every red light, even though it never moved in his favor. By the time he reached the gym, the competition was already underway. He entered through the rear doors, still wearing his work clothes. Tessa stood at the front beside two classmates and their robot. He had missed the introduction.
He had missed the explanation of their design. For one terrible second, he thought he had missed the final run, too. Then Tessa turned her head and saw him. The tension in her shoulders loosened. Desmond raised one thumb.
Tessa faced the course again as the judge gave the signal. She activated the robot. It rolled forward, corrected itself at the first marker, lifted a small foam block, and carried it across the taped line. Tessa broke into a grin. Desmond smiled from the back of the gym.
He had arrived late and he hated that, but he had made it before the moment she had asked him to see. The next morning, Desmond was back at Easton before sunrise, carrying the same tool bag, the same travel mug, and less than 5 hours of sleep. He did not mention the robotics competition. He did not mention Matteo. He opened the electrical room and returned to work.
By the time Celeste arrived, the permanent correction was already underway. Victor met her in the hallway with the revised incident report. She read the first page while walking, then slowed when she reached the responsibility section. Matteo's name was removed. Victor nodded.