And about what might happen if the system continued accepting false approvals.
Then she contacted Diane Shaw through the independent reporting process.
During her interview, Mara brought the original emails.
She didn't secretly take records from restricted systems.
The company obtained the necessary records through its authorized preservation and review procedures.
Mara explained exactly what she had done.
She acknowledged inserting the signature image.
She acknowledged uploading the document.
And she explained that she believed Adrian had already obtained legitimate approval.
The investigators asked whether she had contacted Noelle directly.
Mara shook her head.
“No.”
“Why not?”
Her eyes filled.
“Because Adrian told me the CEO's office had already cleared it.”
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Mara whispered.
“I should have checked.”
Diane nodded.
“The important thing now is that you're giving us an accurate account.”
Mara looked toward her.
“Am I going to be fired?”
The lawyer answered carefully.
“The company will need to review your actions, your understanding of the instructions, and the applicable policies. I won't promise an outcome before that process is complete.”
Mara began crying.
For a moment, she covered her face.
Then she looked up.
“I didn't know he was banned because he hurt somebody.”
Diane studied her.
Mara continued.
“If I'd known, I wouldn't have uploaded it.”
For several seconds, the room was quiet.
Then the investigator asked one final question.
“Did Mr. Pike provide any explanation for why this booking was so urgent?”
Mara nodded.
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
She swallowed.
“He said Mr. Royce needed to reach California for a closing meeting, and that the CEO's original reservation would be moved to another aircraft.”
Diane became still.
Mara continued.
“Adrian told me Ms. Ashford had agreed to the change.”
The investigator made a note.
Then asked.
“Do you have that instruction in writing?”
Mara nodded.
She pointed toward another email.
Its subject line read:
907 — PRIORITY PASSENGER AND SEAT REALLOCATION.
The message instructed staff to assign Gavin Royce to Seat 1A and move Noelle to a different flight.
Noelle had received no such arrangement.
She had boarded under her original confirmed reservation.
For a moment, the investigators understood why the conflict occurred.
Gavin expected to occupy the CEO's seat without encountering her.
Adrian expected Noelle to be rerouted.
But Noelle had followed the original reservation and arrived personally.
She was not supposed to discover Gavin aboard.
The confrontation hadn't created the underlying scheme.
It had exposed a plan already in motion.