Nina turned away long enough to wipe at one eye. She had joined the bank because she believed in helping people manage the decisions that could change their lives. She had stayed because her younger brother's college expenses and her mother's medication came due whether or not her manager was decent. There had been other customers, other verifications, other quiet cruelties. But seeing Loretta's hands shake as she reclaimed a pressed flower was something Nina knew she would carry home.
"Mrs. Johnson has everything required," Nina said, gathering what courage she could. "I can call the settlement administrator. It would take just a few minutes."
Harlon turned. "One more interruption, Miss Alvarez, and we can discuss your employment in my office."
He said it quietly enough to sound professional and loudly enough for everyone nearby to understand. Nina went still. Barnes studied the polished floor. Loretta put the violet back inside her Bible, then looked directly at the manager.
"You may check the issuing bank," she said. "You may call the administrator. You may scan my identification. But you may not insult me because you find it hard to believe I have money coming to me."
A woman near the entrance gave a small, involuntary nod. Harlon saw it and made his decision. He was not going to let an elderly woman correct him in front of the customers and his staff. He took the check from her folder and examined it with an exaggerated frown.
"Come into my office," he ordered. "We'll settle this privately."
His office stood behind glass walls that made it possible to see everything without hearing every word. It was furnished with dark wood, expensive chairs, and framed awards from regional business groups. A photograph showed Harlon shaking hands with Pamela Ror, the regional executive who had approved his last promotion. Another displayed the word INTEGRITY beneath a picture of the bank's headquarters. Loretta sat in the hard visitor's chair and kept her coat buttoned, despite the stale warmth of the room.
Harlon closed the door but left the blinds open. He put the check on his desk, tapped the printed amount twice, and leaned back as though he were examining a criminal confession. "A very generous settlement for someone in your circumstances."
"I earned none of the trouble that led to it," she said. "But I'm entitled to the compensation."
"And you have decided we should simply accept your account of the matter."
"No. I brought documents so you wouldn't have to take my word."
She passed him the settlement administrator's letter, a copy of the final notice, the statement showing her longstanding bank account, and her identification. He looked at the first page for less than a second. The others remained in her hand.
"I know documents," he said. "I've been in this industry for twenty years."
"Then you should know how to verify them."
He looked at her for a long moment. "You have quite a mouth on you."