"I know exactly who you are," Elise said. "And as of this moment, Graham Hale is suspended pending a federal audit."
Police escorted a stunned Graham and a panicked Cynthia off Flight 247 in front of a cabin full of recording smartphones.
Chapter 4: The Chairman's Shadow
With the Hales removed, Elise directed the flight crew to deplane all passengers while security secured the aircraft. She called a remote emergency meeting with Meridian Capital's board and key shareholders of Skyline Airlines.
The evidence pointed beyond Graham Hale. The override system required top-level authorization—credentials held only by Peter Vale, the Chairman of Skyline's Board.
Elise joined a video conference with Vale. The senior executive sat in a dimly lit office, trying to maintain composure. "Elise, this is an overreaction to a minor gate dispute. Graham made a mistake, but grounding an entire aircraft damages our stock value."
"This isn't about a seat, Peter," Elise said calmly. "It's about $80 million in unverified procurement contracts routed through shell companies over the last four years."
Vale’s eyes narrowed. "You're crossing a line, Morgan."
"I am initiating a forensic audit of Skyline's entire operational structure tonight," Elise stated.