"Anyone witness it?"
"One person."
"Who?"
Denise looked toward Mina.
"No longer with the airline."
Malcolm asked, "Name?"
"Andrea Cole."
Evelyn began typing.
"Former cabin manager?"
"Yes."
Evelyn looked surprised.
"You know her?"
"I handled a settlement involving her departure."
Denise stared.
"What settlement?"
Evelyn stopped typing.
Malcolm turned to her.
"What settlement?"
Evelyn hesitated.
That was enough.
"Evelyn."
She sighed.
"Wrongful termination allegation."
Denise's face drained.
"Andrea wasn't fired."
"According to HR, she was."
"She resigned."
"That's not what her file says."
Malcolm felt the pattern growing.
One complaint could be mishandled.
Two could be coincidence.
Seven, plus a disputed termination, plus a senior executive shielding a captain?
That was architecture.
Somebody had built this.
Steven emerged from the cockpit carrying his flight case.
The ground supervisor followed.
Steven saw everyone's faces.
"What now?"
Malcolm looked at him.
"Do you know Andrea Cole?"
The flight case slipped slightly in Steven's hand.
Only slightly.
But Malcolm saw it.
Denise saw it too.
"She worked here years ago."
"She filed a complaint."
Steven shrugged.
"Lots of employees file complaints."
"She was terminated."
"I wouldn't know."
"Interesting."
Steven's eyes narrowed.
"What's interesting?"
"Your reaction when I said her name."
Steven stepped closer.
"You've decided I'm guilty of something."
"I haven't decided anything."
"You're enjoying this."
Malcolm's expression became almost sad.
"No."
That answer silenced Steven more effectively than anger.
Malcolm returned to his seat.
"I was hoping to spend this flight reviewing quarterly financials."
He picked up the leather folder.
"You made yourself more important."
The replacement captain arrived twenty minutes later.
Captain Laura Mitchell.
Forty-seven. Veteran pilot. Crisp posture. No theatrics.
She boarded, spoke quietly with operations, then approached Malcolm.
"Mr. Reed."
"Captain."
"I understand there has been a significant incident."
"There has."
"I've reviewed the operational side. If you're comfortable remaining aboard, we can depart after a short crew reset."
Malcolm looked at Denise.
"Are you still assigned?"
Evelyn answered.
"Yes."
Malcolm looked at Denise.
"Do you want to be?"
Denise looked surprised.
Nobody had asked her that.
She glanced toward Steven.
Then toward the passengers.
"Yes."
Malcolm nodded.
"Then I stay."
A visible wave of relief moved through the cabin.
Steven stood near the door.
For the first time, he looked like an outsider.
Evelyn approached him.
"You're placed on administrative leave effective immediately."
Steven's eyes went cold.
"Without investigation?"
"Pending investigation."
"You've already convicted me."
"No."
Steven glanced at Malcolm.
"He has."
Malcolm said nothing.
Steven turned to him.
"You think controlling stock makes you untouchable?"
Malcolm finally stood.
"No."
He walked closer.
"That's exactly why I need this investigated properly."
Steven gave a bitter laugh.
"You think your people won't protect you?"
"I'll insist they don't."
"Easy to say."
"Then watch."
Steven picked up his flight case.
As he stepped toward the aircraft door, he stopped beside Malcolm.
His voice dropped.
"You have no idea what you're opening."
Malcolm looked at him.
"Should I?"
Steven's eyes flicked toward Evelyn.
Then Denise.
Then back to Malcolm.
"You think this starts with me?"
Malcolm said nothing.
Steven leaned slightly closer.
"It doesn't."
Evelyn stepped between them.
"Captain Parker, leave."
Steven smiled.
It was the first calm expression he had shown.
And Malcolm disliked it immediately.
Steven walked off the aircraft.
The door remained open.
Two minutes later, Malcolm's phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
He opened the message.