The system had also made manipulation profitable.
That distinction would matter later.
At noon, Daniel entered the conference room carrying a sealed folder.
"Initial facts only," he said. "No conclusions yet."
Adrian nodded.
Daniel sat across from him. "Hannah found six prepared-food items outside holding range. She found missing or removed labels in the secondary cooler. The brands in that cooler don't match approved purchasing records. Nothing suggests a widespread airport issue. This is local handling."
"Leonard?"
"No symptoms. Medical staff documented the encounter. Gloria gave a statement."
"Maya?"
"Her case numbers are real. All four. Two were closed locally. One never reached regional compliance because it was recategorized. The inventory complaint was marked duplicate even though there was no duplicate case."
Adrian looked down at his notes.
"And the orange code?"
Daniel's expression tightened. "Not company standard. Charlotte created it locally. Vanessa says it was designed for fraud prevention. There is no approved written criterion. We preserved the configuration list."
"How many profiles?"
"Too early. At least several hundred entries over the preserved period."
Adrian closed his eyes briefly.
"Grant?"
"He says service-door transfers were donations or event reallocations. We have no transfer orders yet. Camera review shows repeat movement."
"Payments?"
"We're pulling them."
"No one gets fired today," Adrian said.
Daniel nodded. "Agreed."
"Even Grant."
"Agreed."
"Written allegations. Opportunity to respond. Separate financial review."
"Already drafted."
Adrian looked at him. "You knew I was going to say that."
Daniel gave the faintest smile. "You've been annoyingly consistent for nineteen years."
By one-thirty, Vanessa and Grant had received suspension notices. Their access credentials were deactivated pending investigation, but the notices stated clearly that no final finding had been made. They could submit documents, identify witnesses, and respond through counsel or representation. Their personal belongings would be released under supervision. No one was escorted through the public concourse in humiliation.
Vanessa read the notice twice.
"After what you think I did," she said to Adrian, "you're giving me a response period?"
"Fair process isn't reserved for people I agree with."
"You weren't interested in fair process when you shut the lounge down."
"Food safety is an immediate-control issue. Employment is not."