"I said let go of my son."
"This is a crew matter."
"That child is my son."
Rebecca's expression did not immediately change.
She looked from Naomi to Elijah and back again.
Disbelief remained stronger than evidence.
"Ma'am, I don't know what you think-"
"Elijah."
Naomi's voice softened instantly.
"Come here, baby."
Rebecca finally released him.
Elijah ran.
His backpack slipped from his shoulder. He nearly stepped on the book. Marcus caught the strap before it hit the floor.
Elijah collided with his mother hard enough to make Naomi take one step backward.
She knelt and wrapped both arms around him.
He was shaking.
"Mommy."
The word came out broken.
Naomi closed her eyes for half a second.
"I'm here."
"I didn't lie."
"I know."
"I told her you were here."
"I know."
"She wouldn't believe me."
Naomi pulled back enough to look at him.
His face was wet. His breathing was fast. He was trying not to sob because he believed, somehow, that controlling his reaction would help prove he had done nothing wrong.
That realization hurt Naomi almost more than the marks on his arm.
"You don't have to prove anything," she said. "Do you understand?"
He nodded.
She gently rolled up his sleeve.
Five red finger marks were visible along the outside of his upper arm.
Naomi became very still.
"Did she do this?"
Elijah nodded again.
Naomi stood.
When she turned toward Rebecca, every trace of maternal softness had disappeared from her face.
"Your name and employee number."
Rebecca lifted her chin.
"Rebecca Morrison. Employee 47293. Fifteen years with this airline."
"Good."
Something in that word unsettled Rebecca.
"Are you familiar with Skyward policy 4.7.3?"
Rebecca blinked.
"I know company policy."
"Then you know 4.7.3 is passenger dignity and non-discrimination. You also know 6.2.1 governs physical contact with passengers and permits restraint only where there is an immediate safety justification or other defined operational need."
Rebecca's confidence faltered.
Naomi continued.
"And 8.9.4 requires de-escalation before removal threats except where safety conditions make delay unreasonable."