Thursday's emergency board session began at nine. All ten directors were present, along with Rory and independent counsel. Warren sat at the far end of the glass table with his arms crossed, looking almost bored, though Daniel noticed that he kept glancing toward Silas. Eleanor called the meeting to order and stated that its purpose was to consider a temporary suspension of the chief executive pending an independent investigation, not to pronounce anyone guilty of a crime.
Daniel began with the lobby footage. The large screen showed Warren approaching, ordering the manual override, breaking the badge, and directing security to take Daniel's belongings. His remarks about service entrances and executive floors sounded uglier without the distraction of the marble lobby and Warren's expensive suit. A director shifted in his seat when the badge cracked, as though he had forgotten how deliberate the act had been.
"That was a heated exchange," Warren said. "One bad morning. Are we going to derail the company over it?"
"We also have eight years of records," Daniel answered.
Rory displayed images from Therese's notebook, identifying the entries as contemporaneous observations requiring corroboration. She then introduced the visitor risk profile and explained how the first forty-seven matches had been checked against access records and vendor-screening information. The directors saw surnames, flagged entries, and instructions that directed guards to scrutinize certain visitors without documented security reasons. They also saw the financial exposure created when biased scores had influenced access to federal subcontract bids.
Hale leaned forward. "Are you saying vendors were removed before anyone reviewed what they could build?"
"In several cases, the records point that way," Rory said. "We need a full assessment to establish the scope. But the risk is immediate enough to justify restricting access to the system and placing the people responsible under review."
Warren scoffed. "You're turning prudent risk management into discrimination because this buyer wants a public victory."
"Then explain the variables," Daniel said. "Explain what security threat a person's family name presents, or why a woman wearing a head wrap requires more scrutiny than someone who arrives wearing an expensive watch."
Warren turned toward Silas. "Tell them the system was designed for safety."
Silas stared at his hands. Sweat had gathered at his temples, and his lips moved without producing sound. He seemed unable to look directly at either Warren or Daniel. Warren's patience shortened, and he told the board that the CFO was exhausted and had nothing useful to add.
"Silas is here," Eleanor said. "If he wants to speak, he can speak for himself."
He did not. The silence was painful, and Daniel forced himself not to fill it on the man's behalf. The board did not need a dramatic confession to recognize the serious documentary questions already before it. They needed enough votes to prevent further retaliation and ensure the records remained available to an independent review.
Hale was the first of Warren's long-standing supporters to move. He said he had always considered Warren aggressive but commercially effective, and he had accepted explanations about security because he trusted the executive team. Now, seeing the actual screening variables and their effect on prospective suppliers, he could not justify that trust. Elaine Dorsey agreed, adding that she had repeatedly asked for clearer vendor evaluation criteria and received only summary assurances.
Warren stared at them. "After everything I've done for both of you?"