"I was assigned to seat thirty-four B and completed the exit-row screening. Richard Taylor, in thirty-four A, asked whether the seat beside him could be kept empty. Soon afterward, Grant Miller directed Chloe Anderson to move me to thirty-eight A, citing my age despite my completed assessment. During the flight, service was withheld from the row. When turbulence frightened the gentleman beside me, I helped him calm his breathing and encouraged him to keep his belt fastened. Miss Anderson later brought water and a blanket; that's the sequence as I witnessed it."
Miller laughed sharply. "That's a very selective version."
"Then we should compare it with the records," Margaret said.
Wilson tapped his tablet. "I have the gate verification already. It confirms Mrs. Davis completed the assessment. Mr. Miller, can you explain what additional concern arose after that screening?"
"My professional judgment."
"Based on what observed limitation?"
"Her age. I wasn't comfortable."
"Did she indicate she was unable or unwilling to perform an exit-row function?"
"Not in those words."
"Then what did she do?"
Miller glanced at Chloe. His eyes flashed a warning that Margaret caught immediately. "I had a concern," he repeated. "I'm entitled to make safety decisions."
"You are entitled to raise an objective concern," Wilson replied. "That's why I'm asking for it."
The exchange might have continued in circles if Chloe had not stepped forward. She was visibly shaking, but her voice, when she spoke, was clear enough for everyone in the jet bridge to hear.
"I was present when Margaret Davis confirmed the exit-row instructions," she said. "She passed. Richard Taylor asked for the seat next to him to stay empty. Grant Miller then instructed me to relocate her. He also told me not to serve row thirty-eight, even if the call light came on."
Miller rounded on her. "She's on probation. She's twisting this because she knows what happens to employees who ignore orders."
Chloe flinched, then steadied herself. "I refused to sign the incident report because the accusations were false."
Wilson lifted a hand. "I don't want anyone speaking over anyone else. Mr. Miller, you'll have a full opportunity to give your account. Miss Anderson, please finish what you were saying."
"Margaret Davis followed the safety instructions during turbulence. She helped Thomas Bell in thirty-eight B. He was afraid of the wing movement, but she didn't get out of her seat or interfere with us. Grant Miller wrote that she insulted the crew and disrupted a passenger. I didn't see any of those things."
Isaac came to stand beside the aircraft door. "I can confirm Mr. Miller directed Miss Anderson not to serve that row. I heard it. I also saw Mrs. Davis remain seated and help her neighbor during the rough air."
Miller looked between them. "This is ridiculous. My word carries responsibility. They don't understand the full picture."
"Then explain it," Wilson said. "We have time to establish the truth."
Margaret had remained silent while Chloe and Isaac spoke. She felt enormous pride in their willingness to tell the truth and a colder, more complicated feeling at how much fear surrounded what ought to have been routine fact-gathering. She did not want the next words to erase the meaning of their courage. But Miller had begun insisting that she was merely an elderly customer looking for special treatment, and the moment had come when allowing him to keep speaking from that assumption would serve nothing.