"I have the reservation history in front of me. Mr. Phillips purchased 1A ninety-three days ago. Mr. Carmichael was assigned to that same seat during a recovery from a canceled connection. The automated assignment was erroneous."
Richard paused and continued, "Did you personally review either passenger's booking record before threatening to remove Mr. Phillips?"
Robert swallowed. "I relied on the information given by the senior purser."
"That wasn't the question."
"No, sir. I didn't personally review the records."
"Did you personally witness Mr. Phillips threaten anyone?"
"No."
"Was he out of his seat, blocking the aisle, or physically preventing boarding?"
Robert looked at Darien, who was still sitting in 1A. "No, sir."
"Then explain why the passenger whose reservation was valid became the subject of a security response."
Robert opened his mouth and found no useful answer. He could describe the delay, the crew's stated authority, and the need to maintain order. None of those facts explained why he had skipped the original problem and chosen the most aggressive available solution against the customer already seated.
"I should have verified the records," he said at last.
"Yes," Richard replied. "You should have. We will discuss the rest after the flight. Put Ms. Wallace on the phone."
Robert lowered the device and turned toward the purser. Brock looked at it as though it were something dangerous that had been placed in front of her without warning. She had worn the same uniform for decades, had trained younger colleagues, and had built much of her identity around being the person who could resolve a difficult situation with a firm voice and a few brisk instructions.
Now she was discovering the difference between looking decisive and making a defensible decision. Her heart beat hard enough that she could feel it beneath her collar.
"Brock," the captain said. "He wants you."
She took the phone. "Mr. Harrington, Brock Wallace, forward cabin purser."
"Ms. Wallace, I want you to tell me why you told a passenger with a confirmed first-class reservation that his seat belonged to someone who had been assigned there in error."
"Mr. Carmichael is one of our most frequent travelers, sir. He's been flying with us for years. I believed he was the higher-priority customer."
"And what did you check before you reached that belief?"
"I compared their boarding passes and called the gate."
"Did you ask the gate which booking came first?"
"Not specifically, sir."
"Did you ask them to correct the duplicate assignment?"
"I tried to resolve it by offering an alternative seat."
"To Mr. Phillips."
"Yes."
"Not to Mr. Carmichael."
There was a silence. Brock could hear the soft ventilation overhead and the distant crackle of another attendant speaking near the galley. Every ordinary sound seemed unnaturally loud now that she was unable to avoid the question.
"Mr. Carmichael was very upset," she said. "I thought moving the other passenger would prevent a scene."
"You were prepared to reward the passenger who created the scene by taking something from the passenger who hadn't," Richard replied. "And when the second passenger objected, you described him as hostile. Do I have that correct?"