Then he looked at his watch.
1:46 p.m.
Noah’s school ended at 3:10.
He could still make pickup.
He started packing.
Eleanor noticed.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
She laughed.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
Her smile weakened slightly.
“What?”
Caleb zipped the tool bag.
“The million.”
The hangar changed again.
Applause died.
Nobody moved.
Eleanor stared at him.
For the first time that afternoon, she looked genuinely uncomfortable.
Finch looked away.
One of the attorneys stepped forward.
“Mr. Mercer.”
Caleb looked at him.
The man extended a professional smile.
“My name is David Klein. General counsel.”
“I figured.”
“The CEO’s statement was obviously made in the spirit of humor.”
Caleb looked toward Eleanor.
“She said it was serious.”
David continued.
“There is no written wager.”
“I didn’t ask you.”
Caleb looked at Eleanor.
She held his gaze.
David spoke again.
“Any extraordinary disbursement of that amount would require corporate authorization.”
“Okay.”
“Which was not obtained.”
Caleb nodded.
“So you're not paying.”
David softened.
“We will absolutely compensate you generously according to your service agreement.”
“My service agreement says three thousand.”
“Yes.”
“Then pay that.”
Eleanor finally spoke.
“Caleb.”
He looked at her.
She seemed about to say something.
Then glanced around.
Board members.
Executives.
Legal counsel.
Finch.
Everyone watching.
Pride returned.
“You understand I cannot simply write a million-dollar check because of something said casually in a hangar.”
Caleb studied her.
“You said your word.”
Her jaw tightened.
“This is business.”
He nodded.
That answer told him everything.
“Okay.”
Eleanor frowned.
“Okay?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not going to argue?”
“No.”
David relaxed.
Finch almost smiled.
Caleb picked up his case.
Then turned toward the aircraft.
“One thing.”
Finch sighed.
“What now?”
“The remaining redundant sensor modules.”
“What about them?”
“Replace them.”
Finch laughed.
“They tested fine.”
“So did that one.”
“It had a crack.”
“Yes.”
“Manufacturing anomaly.”
“Maybe.”
Finch crossed his arms.
“We've got this under control.”
Caleb looked at him.
“No, you don't.”
Several people stiffened.
Finch stepped closer.
“Excuse me?”
“That module was installed with three others from the same production period.”
“You're speculating.”
“I’m warning you.”
“Based on one cracked housing?”