At three ten, Northstar CEO Malcolm Reeves walked outside with Amelia Grant and board member Caroline West.
Graham was not with them.
Ronan stood.
Others followed.
Malcolm lifted both hands.
"I'm not going to ask anyone to make a decision standing in a parking lot."
Ronan said, "Good."
Malcolm nodded.
"We have placed Mr. Voss on administrative suspension effective immediately while the company conducts an independent review of Mr. Mercer's termination and the maintenance event connected to the aircraft currently under engineering inspection."
People exchanged looks.
Malcolm continued.
"I also want to be clear that no employee will be disciplined merely for leaving today, provided all aircraft and work areas were properly secured before departure."
Maya said, "They were."
"I've been informed they were."
Owen visibly exhaled.
Malcolm looked around.
"Anyone who wishes to return for the remainder of shift may do so."
Nobody moved.
"Anyone who wishes to go home may do so."
Still nobody moved.
Ronan asked, "What about Caleb?"
Malcolm's expression changed.
"We're trying to reach him."
Ronan nodded.
"Try harder."
Caleb had turned his phone off.
He picked Nora up from school at three thirty.
She came running from the building carrying a paper bag, her winter coat unzipped despite the cold.
"Dad!"
Caleb smiled automatically.
There were some reflexes grief could not interrupt.
"Coat."
Nora stopped.
"What?"
"Zip it."
She groaned.
"You say that every day."
"And every day you're surprised."
She zipped it halfway.
"All the way."
"Dad."
"Nora."
She zipped it.
"Authoritarian."
Caleb blinked.
"Where did you learn that word?"
"Ms. Jennings."
"I'm going to need context."
Nora climbed into the truck.
"She said kings used to be authoritarian."
"Excellent."
Caleb shut her door.
For ten minutes, Nora filled the truck with school.
The class Christmas party.
A boy named Mason who had dropped a cupcake frosting-side-down and tried to eat it anyway.
A movie they were watching the next day.
A paper snowflake contest.
A mysterious gift she had hidden in her room that Caleb was absolutely forbidden to investigate.
Caleb drove.
Nodded.
Asked questions.
Tried to make his voice normal.
Then Nora looked into the back seat.
"Why is your work box back there?"
Caleb's hands tightened on the wheel.
Children noticed everything.
"What box?"
"Your picture."
He looked in the mirror.
The cardboard box was partially covered by his coat.
Nora could see the frame.
"Why did you bring your stuff home?"
Caleb breathed in.
Eight-year-old version of the truth.
"My job changed today."
"What changed?"
"I don't work at Northstar anymore."
Nora stared at him.
"Why?"
The light ahead turned red.
Caleb stopped.
He could tell her the company eliminated his position.
A clean adult lie.
He hated it immediately.
"I found something on an airplane that I thought wasn't safe."
Nora listened.
"I wouldn't say the plane was okay until people checked it properly."
"Was it not okay?"
"It looks like I was right."
"So why did they fire you?"
There it was.
Children could find the heart of adult nonsense with terrifying efficiency.
Caleb looked through the windshield.
"Sometimes people make bad decisions because they're worried about money or schedules or looking wrong."
Nora frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
"No."