“Sounds subjective.”
“Much of frontline authority is subjective. That is why training and review exist.”
The senator leaned back. Marcus continued.
“We should not solve bias by making employees afraid. Fear produces more bad decisions. We solve it by making good procedure easier to follow than bad instinct.”
That sentence made it into the final committee report. The Act passed in February with a comfortable bipartisan majority after several amendments. The President signed it in early March, more than six months after gate B12. Marcus stood behind the invited witnesses at the signing ceremony.
Charles Monroe was there. Dr. Amina Rahman was there. Elena Ruiz attended with her parents.
Zoe sat near the rear, not as a celebrity, but as a student journalist invited because her recording had preserved evidence. Marcus insisted the first pen from the signing ceremony go to Dr. Rahman. She looked surprised.
“Your video made this possible,” she said.
Marcus shook his head.
“Your complaint existed before my video.”
She smiled.
“That sounds like something you’ve had to say a lot.”
“Too much.”
The new Office of Aviation Equity and Passenger Fairness needed a director. Secretary Morrison offered Marcus the job privately before the legislation was final. He refused the first time.
“You’ve spent eighteen months building this work,” she said.
“That doesn’t mean I should own it.”
“You wouldn’t own it.”
“You know what I mean.”
Morrison folded her arms.
“Are you afraid people will say the office was created for you?”
“Yes.”
“They will.”
Marcus looked irritated.
“That’s not persuasive.”
“I’m not finished. They will say it whether you take the job or not. The question is whether you’re the right person.”
“There are others.”
“Name three.”
Marcus did. Morrison listened.
“All excellent.”
“Then hire one.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because none of them has your combination of consumer policy, rulemaking, procurement understanding, civil-rights coordination, and talent for annoying airline executives without technically insulting them.”
“That last qualification isn’t statutory.”
“It should be.”
Marcus smiled despite himself. He still refused. Two weeks later Charles Monroe called.
“I heard you’re being stupid.”