“How many?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“Employees?”
“Yes.”
“And customers?”
“Forty-three formal complaints.”
I closed the folder.
“Forty-three.”
Denise nodded.
“That's only what we found.”
I looked toward the terminal.
Passengers were rushing toward connecting flights.
Nobody knew.
Nobody could see the spreadsheet in my hand.
But now I understood.
The seat wasn't the story.
It was evidence.
The Boardroom
The emergency meeting began at nine the next morning.
Grant Holloway arrived ten minutes late.
He walked into the boardroom carrying a leather portfolio.
He looked confident.
“What's this about?”
The airline's president sat at the head of the table.
Beside him were four board members.
Denise Harper sat near the window.
And I sat at the far end.
Still wearing my gray hoodie.
Grant didn't recognize me.
He nodded toward the chair.
“Who is he?”
Nobody answered.
Grant looked annoyed.
“I asked who he is.”
I closed the folder in front of me.
“Sit down, Grant.”
He froze.
His eyes narrowed.
“Have we met?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know my name?”
“Because I've read your file.”
His expression changed.
The airline president finally spoke.
“Mr. Holloway, this is Marcus Carter.”
Grant stared.
Then he laughed.
“No.”
I waited.
“You're Marcus Carter?”
“Yes.”
He looked at the board.
“That's impossible.”
“Why?”
“You're supposed to be in New York.”
“I was.”
“Then—”
“I changed my plans.”
Grant sat down.
His confidence had disappeared.
I pushed the folder toward him.
“Explain these.”
He opened it.
His face went pale.
Reservation changes.
Internal messages.
Complaint closures.
Employee transfers.
And one instruction.
A message he had sent to Sarah.
“Make sure Ms. Harrington receives 1A if possible. She is a priority guest.”
Grant looked up.
“I can explain.”
“I hope you can.”
He swallowed.
“She had connections.”
“That doesn't explain changing my seat.”
“I didn't know it was yours.”
“You had access to the manifest.”
“I didn't personally change it.”
Denise spoke.
“The system shows your credentials.”
Grant looked at her.
“My credentials were compromised.”
“By whom?”
“I don't know.”