Chapter 5

Julian was squatting next to the machine, checking out the nameplate. Suddenly, he leaned in close and lowered his voice, "Sophia, come check this out."

I squatted down next to him and looked where he was pointing. The nameplate had a Southland Machinery model number, but the numbering didn't match what I had seen on their website. There was an extra letter: "I."

"What's the 'I' mean?" I asked.

Julian shook his head. "No clue. I'll check it out when we get back."

At two in the afternoon, the Southland Machinery engineers arrived. There were two of them, one chubby and one skinny. Both wore dark blue work uniforms with the logo on their chests half-peeled off.

The skinny one had a cigarette hanging from his mouth. Before the forklift even stopped moving, he was already shouting at the workers. "Over here. This way. Yeah, right there."

The factory was a chaotic mess. Emily held up her phone, recording a video, saying she'd share it in the company group chat so everyone could check out the progress.

I stood there watching for about twenty minutes. The more I watched, the more it didn't sit right with me.

I had seen CoreTech Precision's engineers before. When they came to install equipment, they always brought a full set of professional tools: laser alignment gear, torque wrenches, and levels. They had two whole boxes for calibration gear alone.

But these two? Each had a shoulder bag. They didn't even bring a toolbox.

Julian quietly took a photo and sent it to me with a message. [No toolbox? Are they going to tighten screws with their bare hands?]

I sent back simply: [Watch them closely.]

Over the next two days, the two engineers started "testing" the equipment. The factory doors stayed shut. Emily said it was to keep things moving and that no one else could come in.

But Julian was from purchasing, so he had clearance. He went in for about twenty minutes, and then sent me a quick text. [The software is still last year's version.]

[You sure?] I asked.

He replied: [Yeah, I took a photo. The version number on the screen is from last year, and there is no custom integration. Our MES system cannot even connect to it.]

I stared at his message for a while. Then I opened the notes on my phone and started writing down every issue I had noticed, one by one.

First, the model number on the nameplate did not add up. Second, the engineers showed up without any professional tools. Third, the software was old and had no custom interface.

Fourth, the testing process was a mess, and there was no test report at all. Fifth, the auto-loading system was not set up correctly, and some sensors were missing.

That made five problems. Saved.

*****

On Thursday night at eight, the company group chat exploded. Emily posted a video with the caption: [First test run of the new equipment went great.]

In the video, a machining center was running, the cutter tearing into the workpiece with a deafening roar. Honestly, it looked great.

Louis replied right away: [Nice. Appreciate the effort.]

But the glory only lasted thirty seconds.

Half a minute in, the machine suddenly let out a nasty screech and started shaking like crazy. The workpiece came out with wavy lines all over the surface.

The operator hit the emergency stop. He spent a long time checking the machine, and he looked terrible. He didn't say anything and shook his head.

I stayed silent in the group chat.

*****

The next day was Friday, and per the contract, today was when the final payment was due.

Kaden Carter, the marketing manager from Southland Machinery, showed up first thing, lounging in the reception room with his legs crossed, waiting for the money to hit his account.

"Ms. Shaw, the contract says payment needs to be made within three business days. Today is the last day. Please get that done," Kaden said.

Emily's face darkened. The machine was still dead in the workshop.

Last Friday, when they signed the addendum, she had convinced Louis to pay 95 percent upfront. Aside from the final payment, the rest was already sitting in Southland Machinery's account. But the machines were useless.