Validation did not require predetermined punishment.
It required accurate records.
The Collins Meridian angle became more complicated when Adrian Collins asked to meet Amara.
She declined initially.
Conflict.
Marcus could meet.
Adrian insisted not to influence findings.
He wanted to disclose something.
Amara agreed only with counsel present and a recorder running.
They met in a Commission conference room.
Adrian arrived without attorneys.
That was unusual.
Amara had counsel anyway.
He sat.
Looked older than he had on television.
“My wife and I are separated.”
Amara’s expression did not change.
“That is personal.”
“I know.”
“I’m telling you because people assume I’m here to protect her.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
“What are you here to disclose?”
Adrian placed a folder on the table.
“Communications with Martin Keene.”
Amara did not touch it.
Counsel did.
Adrian continued.
“I believed Martin was a customer-relations contact.”
“He handled executive disruptions.”
“Upgrades.”
Irregular operations.”
“I did not know he was changing safety classifications.”
“Did you ever ask him to make complaints disappear?”
“No.”
“Did Jennifer?”
Adrian looked down.
“Yes.”
Amara waited.
“How do you know?”
“I found messages on a shared travel account.”
He looked ashamed.
“Some old.”
“She wrote things like ‘Martin fixed it.’”
“‘No report now.’”
“‘Crew girl handled.’”
Amara’s jaw tightened.
“Did you know she was threatening employees with your company’s business?”
“I knew she used my name.”
“That is not same question.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“I knew enough that I should have asked more.”
Good answer.
Not exculpation.
Accountability.
He continued.
“I liked that problems went away.”
“I didn’t ask how.”
Amara said:
“Convenient ignorance is still a choice.”
“Yes.”
He looked at her directly.
“I understand that now.”
“Do you?”
“I’m trying.”
Amara asked:
“Did Collins Meridian ever condition airline business on treatment of Jennifer?”
“Not formally.”
“Informally?”
Adrian hesitated.
“An executive assistant complained once after Jennifer was denied boarding for arriving late.”
“What happened?”
“Our travel director called Keene.”
“What did travel director say?”
“I don’t know exact.”
“Find out.”
“I did.”
He slid another page.
Email:
We spend too much with your airline for Mrs. Collins to be embarrassed at a gate. Resolve.
Amara looked.
“Who sent this?”
“Our former travel director.”