Richard looked toward his lawyer.
Adrienne said:
“If you need legal advice to identify three passengers you intended to put on my aircraft without a manifest, we are already done.”
Richard leaned back.
“They are private capital clients.”
“Of Meridian?”
“Of mine.”
Silence.
Marcus closed his eyes.
Adrienne stared.
“Explain.”
Richard spoke carefully.
“They have business relationships with several of our corporate clients.”
“That did not answer the question.”
“They sometimes need point-to-point movement.”
“Using our aircraft.”
“On unused legs.”
“Without contracts.”
“Informal accommodations.”
Adrienne almost smiled.
“Say charter.”
Richard’s jaw tightened.
“It wasn’t charter.”
“They covered costs.”
“Say charter.”
His attorney leaned over.
Richard ignored him.
“They reimbursed flight expenses.”
“Through Meridian?”
“No.”
“There it is.”
Richard’s face reddened.
Adrienne continued:
“You sold seats on company-controlled reposition flights.”
“I coordinated unused capacity.”
“You took money.”
“Consulting fees.”
Marcus swore under his breath.
Richard looked toward him.
“Don’t act shocked.”
Marcus stood.
Adrienne said:
“Sit.”
He sat.
Richard continued:
“These aircraft fly empty constantly.”
“Everyone in this industry knows it.”
“Yes.”
“Legitimate charter companies sell reposition capacity under approved operating structures.”
“You did it privately.”
“You hid passengers.”
“You instructed crew not to manifest them until airborne.”
Richard’s attorney said:
“We dispute that characterization.”
Adrienne looked at him.
“Excellent.”
“Then explain the text.”
No answer.
Adrienne turned back to Richard.
“How long?”
He did not answer.
“How long?”
“Two years.”
Marcus whispered:
“Jesus Christ.”
Adrienne stared.
“Before the acquisition?”
“Yes.”
“And after.”
Richard looked toward her.
“Yes.”
“So you inherited the scheme.”
His face sharpened.
“I inherited a regional operation that produced sixteen percent above projected margin.”
“No.”
“You inherited theft and continued it.”
“Those margins benefited the company.”
“Did the consulting fees?”
Richard went silent.
Adrienne asked:
“How much?”
The lawyer intervened.
“We are not discussing financial totals without—”
Adrienne looked toward him.
“You should advise your client to stop speaking.”
The lawyer did.
Richard did not.
“Maybe eight hundred thousand.”
The room went still.
Adrienne felt nothing for a moment.
Not anger.
Just clarity.
“Company aircraft.”
“Yes.”
“Company fuel.”
“Yes.”
“Company crews.”
“Yes.”
“Company maintenance.”
“Yes.”
“Your money.”
Richard swallowed.
“Yes.”
Adrienne nodded.