Been working on my kids' book, but finally I've finished this next chapter. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 14.
That evening, Hadley and Heather Jacobs drove to the hardware store to meet Anita and pick out fixtures and paint for the reconstruction of the third floor of House's building. The men on the team had begged off at the last minute.
Anita was late in arriving, but wouldn't explain where she was. Since she was grinning, Hadley didn't care.
The women were faced with such a wide selection of everything that it was hard to decide. "How about this one?" Hadley pointed to a faucet set for the bathroom and matching towel bars and toilet paper holder.
Anita shook her head. "Too modern. As much as I like contemporary, it's such an elegant house and requires elegant fixtures." Anita pointed to others that were more appropriate.
"Ooh! I like this one." Jacobs ran a finger over the knobs of one of the ones Anita considered.
Hadley tilted her head and squinted to look at them and the matching items. "Maybe."
Once they'd finally decided on fixtures, they turned to paint colors. That's where the arguments really got started.
"Blue's and green's are cold colors," Anita said. "I say we use only warm colors, yellows and browns."
"But I like cool colors in bathrooms and warm colors in the bedroom," Hadley insisted.
Ignoring her, Anita picked only golden browns and pinks.
Hadley looked like she was about to stamp a foot. "Pink? We are not going to paint any of our rooms pink!"
"Why not?"
"Because it's...it's too...too girly."
Anita crossed her arms and turned her back. "Then you pick the paint."
Hadley turned her back. "Oh, don't be like that."
Jacobs hadn't said anything before, but listening to Hadley and Anita squabble, she stepped in, "What about off-white?"
Together they turned on her. "Never," Anita said.
"That's so dull! I'd sooner have pink." Hadley grimaced.
"Yeah!" Anita showed a strip of paint colors to Hadley. "How about this mauve? It's not so girly as the bright pink."
"Maybe."
The rest of the gang was assembled as usual at the diner. The special was cannelloni with meat sauce, one of House's favorites, and probably everyone else's too.
They were all in a good mood, for once, although Cameron said, "I just want to eat dinner, go home and crash."
"Are you still getting new flu patients?" Simpson asked.
"Unfortunately yes. One was a baby, so congested and I'd guess feeling aches she didn't understand. Even worse, her mother was sick too."
"Wish there was a way we could help, but we have a new patient, too, and we have to concentrate on diagnosing him," Magnani said, and Simpson nodded.
Cameron smirked. "Oh, I'll manage, but I can't wait until this slows down."
"I may have some time to help," Jessica said. "But that will depend on how our patients are doing."
"Don't look at me," House said. "I have to help Will with the renovations."
"Since when are you doing that?" Wilson asked.
"It's okay, Wilson. I don't expect him to help." But she thought back to when House first arrived in Shelby and did just that. She never would have made it through all the patients they had then. The rising number of flu cases was nothing in comparison.
"Well, if you insist." He said it with his most put-upon face and voice.
She laughed.
Soon after their cannelloni arrived, the three missing women showed up.
"So?" Jess asked.
"It took a lot of arguing and debating and finally we came up with what we want for our apartment." Hadley looked at Anita. "The biggest point of contention was the paint."
"But we're even in agreement on that." Anita smiled. "Now we just have to tell Will."
"Heather was a big help."
Pink tinged Jacobs' cheeks. "I pointed out that they'd likely live with their other decisions for a long time, but paint is easily changed if you decide you didn't like it."
"More important than paint, where are we with the investigation?" House asked.
"We aren't anywhere." Anita pointed to him and then herself. "I was late at the hardware store because my boss called a meeting in his office."
"In D. C.?" Simpson asked.
"Yeah. He's upset that the EPA is now involved," Anita said.
"What?" Wilson asked.
"You heard me. The factory is dumping toxic chemicals into a stream that leads to the bay."
Cameron startled. "That's why fishing's been so bad lately."
"Maybe. Anyway, my boss ranted at us all about it, so I quit."
"What?" Hadley sat up straighter.
"Well, I was going to do it anyway when the case was over, but now with not only Gottleib and Garcia, but the EPA involved, they won't need me."
"But if you were the one to prove the company was harming the environment, I'd think they needed you more than ever," Jess said.
"Yeah, that's what my boss said. I told him they knew where to find me to testify, and verify the transfer of samples to the lab. I had an apartment to reconstruct."
House grinned, but everyone else had expressions ranging from bewildered to astonished to downright flabbergasted.
"Good for you," Magnani finally said.
Jess nodded. "Yeah, glad I could help, but if they thought you couldn't handle it and had to bring in two other guys, well that's...sexist among other things."
"Hey, I wouldn't go that far." Simpson frowned.
"That's cause you're a man." Jacobs smirked then looked at Anita. "Don't you have to give two weeks notice or something?"
"I've got enough accumulated vacation to cover it." Anita chuckled and rubbed her palms together. "I can't wait to demolish a wall or two and build some new ones."
House suddenly frowned. "Guess we've lost our connection to the case. You won't be able to keep us up to date on what's happening."
Anita shrugged. "It'll be all out in the open soon, so you can read about it in the newspaper or online."
"That's true."
"And maybe your new best pal Marshall will come to cry on your shoulder," she scoffed.
"He might at that. Said it himself, he was an idiot, even if he wasn't guilty." House spotted Pete. "You might want to talk to him as a potential witness to what's happening to fishing on the bay due to the company spilling wastes."
"I'll let G & G do it." She leaned back. "I've done my part."
"And no one appreciated it."
"No, they didn't. But that's not why I'm quitting." She sat forward again and leaned her elbows on the table. "I'm tired of traveling, of never having a home. I've been with the bureau for almost ten years. Enough is enough."
Hadley smiled at her. "I'm glad, but what about the job with Chief Anderson."
"You're going to work for Anderson?" Simpson asked.
"When did this happen?" Magnani dropped his fork.
Anita held up her hands and laughed. "We haven't decided about this yet. I'll talk to him tomorrow, let him know I quit my day job."
"I think it's great. You'll be able to stay here."
"Yeah, great," House echoed but didn't sound like he was as enthused.
Cameron play-slapped him. "Anita, you've been a welcome addition here in Shelby. And I know someone will quickly realize what an ideal tenant you'll be."
"Thanks." Anita smiled her way. "You've all made me feel so welcome."
"I'm..." Hadley swallowed. "I'm glad you can stay."
Everyone else agreed.
As they rode home, Cameron studied House's profile. "What's your problem with Anita sticking around?"
"I have nothing against her, but I wonder how long she and Hadley will stay together."
Cameron's eyes narrowed as she considered that. "You think there may be trouble in their paradise?"
"I've heard of couples breaking up when they have to work on a project together." The side of the face quirked into a grimace. "Given Hadley's relationship history, I only give them 50-50 odds."
"Are you willing to put any cash up for that bet?"
He laughed. "Okay, maybe they can make it through this."
"They seem well-suited."
He glanced at her and smiled. "You'd say that."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That you're a romantic at heart. Nothing wrong with that, but it can skew your view of other peoples' relationships."
"Guess it's best to stay out of it, let them work it out." Her phone beeped. She checked it and the time. What did Anderson want at seven thirty in the evening? "Hello, Chief. How can I help you?"
"I thought you and Doc House would be happy to know the two men we caught are singing, about each other and about the person who ordered the attacks on your house."
"Harris?" she guessed.
Anderson chuckled. "Got it in one. They say he told 'em to do whatever it would take to keep the construction from finishing."
"Not a surprise," House said.
"They both thought Harris was afraid the house was too near the plant and the owners might see something they were doing wrong."
"Did they know what that was?"
"Nah. They were just hired thugs. Mind you, they had jobs at the plant, menial ones, but they're not the sharpest tools. Don't even know what the plant produces."
Cameron scratched the back of her head. "Wonder why Harris wasn't afraid the construction workers would notice any wrongdoing."
"Yeah. Something else they never questioned. And probably Harris had never considered." Anderson was tapping something, either computer keys or his desk. Sounded more like typing. "Hope you don't mind, but I'm listening to what you're saying and keeping a list of questions for Harris."
"Happy to provide those. Another thing I've wondered was why they attacked the guards and your men. Were they the ones who did that too?"
"Yeah, they even admitted to it. We have enough now to go after Harris, but I don't want to step on the FBI's toes, especially that Anita Morrow. She's definitely one of the good ones."
"Don't know if we're at liberty to tell you, but I'd offer her a job today," House said.
"Oh? Why, has she gotten another offer?"
Cameron sneered at House for bringing it up. It was Anita's call whether she should tell Anderson she'd quit the bureau. Time to get the conversation back on another topic. "I understand the EPA is investigating now too. You'll have to stand in line to charge Harris."
"Saves me money if I don't have to, but I sure would like to be in on the take-down."
"The feds may call you for the evidence you collected."
"First thing tomorrow, I'll check in with Anita, and find out where we stand." Anderson didn't say whether he was referring to the job or to the case.
After he ended the call, Cameron turned to House. "You shouldn't have said anything about Anita to Anderson."
He waited until he pulled into the driveway before saying, "I didn't tell him she quit the bureau."
"No, but you implied she was considering another job. It's not true."
"He can make of what I said whatever he wants." He got out and walked toward the house without waiting for her.
"I hope you get your practice up and running fast so you don't have time for any of this nonsense."
He turned back and faced her. "You knew what I was like since you first met me. Accept it. I have, and so has Wilson."
"I wouldn't say he's accepted it, more like he's resigned himself to it. I just forget sometimes and then you remind me what a jerk you can be."
"Oh, now I'm a jerk?"
"Yes. If you've accepted the way you are, you have to admit that."
"Are we breaking up?
"No, of course not. I have to vent my frustration sometimes is all." She put a hand on the doorknob. "Compared to Anita and Remy, we're solid."
"Sure of that, huh?"
"Yup." She grinned suddenly, opened the door, walked in and let it slam in his face.