Marcus turned to David Kim. "Arrange a neutral space for witnesses and make sure the customer service desks continue operating. Nobody here should have to miss their appointments because this branch failed."
David nodded. "We should also take custody of the torn instrument and document its condition. The hospital can confirm the payment and issue a replacement."
"The bank should handle that process at its own expense," Evelyn said. "But not until the original is preserved and copied for the record."
"Agreed," David answered.
Near the entrance, Marcus Williams removed his security cap. The gesture was modest but attracted the CEO's attention. "Sir, for the incident report, I want to state that Dr. Carter never threatened anyone, never tried to leave when staff asked her to stay, and never resisted an instruction. She asked for a verification procedure."
Marcus Carter III looked at him. "Thank you. Your report will be included."
"I also want it noted that I questioned whether she needed to be escorted to the security office," Marcus Williams added. "I was told to stand down. I should have spoken up earlier."
The admission surprised Evelyn. It would have been easy for the guard to describe himself as having done everything correctly, especially with senior executives in the room. Instead, he had acknowledged both the action he took and the action he failed to take. Evelyn regarded him with the respect she felt for clinicians who corrected their own records rather than pretending mistakes had never happened.
At the side of the crowd, Luis Maldonado raised a hand. "Sir, my daughter and I were here before this started. We heard the employee accuse your mother, and we heard your mother ask them to verify the hospital. They didn't do it."
"Thank you," Marcus said. "May I have your name for the witness list?"
"Luis Maldonado. I can give my contact details privately. My daughter doesn't need to be on television."
Marcus agreed immediately. Rosa stepped out from behind her father and looked up at Evelyn. "Do you work where they fixed my heart?" she asked.
The question cut through the tension more effectively than any corporate statement. Evelyn's expression softened. "I do, sweetheart. Are you feeling better now?"
Rosa nodded enthusiastically and touched the small heart printed on her sweater. "I can run faster than my cousin now."
Evelyn smiled. "Then your cousin has some catching up to do."
Luis wiped at one eye and looked embarrassed by the gesture. He explained that his daughter had undergone surgery the previous year, and Evelyn remembered the case once he described the procedure. She had reviewed the surgical plan with Rosa's team, though she had not been the operating surgeon. The little girl's recognition mattered to her more than the revelation that tens of thousands of strangers were watching from their phones.