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school on hold, get a job for a while. Just until,
     you know. We’ll find room in the budget. We can pull Kat from that after-school enrichment program. We’ll live in a condo.
     I don’t care.’
    He pulled on his pants, slowly, his legs heavy and numb, like they didn’t belong to him. He couldn’t meet Annabel’s eyes because
     he was scared of what that would make him feel.
    ‘You are always true,’ she said. She took off the two-carat ring, set it on the duvet beside her, and managed a smile. ‘Make
     this right however you have to.’
    The suite in the Beverly Hills Hotel was the largest Mike had ever seen. Bill Garner sat behind an antique letter desk, cocked
     back thoughtfully in a leather chair that seemed designed for musing. He studied the photo, a computer printout that showed
     PVC pipe protruding into the ditch.
    Through the open door to the sitting room wafted laughter, tidbits of conversation, and the occasional camera flash. The recipients
     of the community-leadership award were to minglenow and take some PR photos to lay the media foundation for the formal ceremony Sunday evening. Aside from the governor,
     who – judging by the chorus of salutations – had just swept in, Mike had been the last to arrive.
    Garner rose, strode across, and poked his head through the doorway. ‘Are the setups ready? Okay, give us a minute here.’ He
     closed the door and resumed his spot behind the desk. His face, teenage smooth, registered nothing but pleasant optimism,
     as it had the entire time Mike had explained the problem.
    Garner templed his fingers. ‘You’re going to pay for the fix?’
    Mike said, ‘I am prepared to do that.’
    ‘Those PVC pipes. Where do you think they’ll go once you dig them up?’
    ‘I hadn’t given that much thought,’ Mike said.
    ‘Into a landfill, I’d guess. So you want to move pipes from the ground back into the ground in another location? And use a
     lot of gas-guzzling machinery to do it?’ He smiled affably. ‘Sounds a bit silly, doesn’t it?’
    Mike became suddenly aware of his new suit. ‘Yes. But honest, at least.’
    ‘These houses you’ve built, they’re ninety-nine-percent green. There’s a lot to be proud of.’
    Mike studied him a moment, trying to read his face. ‘I don’t see it that way.’ He shifted on the plush armchair, uncomfortable
     in the dress clothes. ‘I’m not sure I’m following the direction this conversation is taking.’
    ‘The governor’s hung his hat on this project, Mike. You know how strong he is on the environment. And your housing community,
     with our pilot subsidy program, shows that a green model can work not just for rich assholes – that it can make sense for
     working folks. Green Valley is the governor’s baby. He’s been talking it up in the press for
months
.’
    ‘I understand that this is an embarrassment,’ Mike said. ‘I’m sorry.’
    ‘The subsidies are a pilot program, tenuous at best. The governor is under fire from both sides of the aisle. If we don’t
     parade out a community model to show the energy benefits – soon – those subsidies will be off the table. You’re aware of the
     election in a month’s time? The governor’s got a host of ballot initiatives he’s put his neck on the line for. That’s why
     we timed the press, the photo shoot, the award ceremony this Sunday.’ He pursed his lips. ‘How long will it take you to switch
     out these pipes?’
    Discomfort glowed to life in Mike’s stomach, crept up his throat. ‘Months.’
    ‘And your award for outstanding community—’
    ‘Obviously, you’ll have to withdraw that.’
    ‘See,’ Garner said, ‘that’s the thing. No award ceremony means no press. No press means no public support. No public support
     means no state subsidies for those home buyers.’
    Mike’s mouth went dry.
    ‘How much are the subsidies?’ Garner asked. ‘Three hundred thousand per family?’
    ‘Two seventy-five,’ Mike said