Jessica, still standing near the galley, heard too.
Anderson continued:
“Customer incident classifications were altered before they reached board reporting.”
Maya’s face changed.
“How many?”
“Hundreds.”
Silence.
“Over what period?”
“Eighteen months.”
Maya looked toward Jessica.
The flight attendant suddenly seemed less important.
Not irrelevant.
But possibly part of something larger.
Anderson said:
“Legal confirmed the CEO signed off on the reporting methodology.”
Maya looked out the window.
Ground workers moved beneath the wing.
Normal airport life.
Inside Seat 12A, the world was changing.
“What exactly do you need from me?”
“Your authorization to place emergency removal on the agenda.”
Maya closed her eyes briefly.
Under Crown Atlantic Holdings’ governance rules, Anderson as chairman could call an emergency session.
But removing the sitting CEO before a regularly scheduled board meeting required approval from both the chairman and the lead independent director.
Maya Washington was the lead independent director.
She also chaired the board’s Ethics, Safety, and Customer Standards Committee.
She had spent the past eleven months demanding cleaner complaint data.
Management repeatedly assured her that the airline’s service problems were improving.
Now Anderson was telling her the numbers themselves had been manipulated.
Maya opened her eyes.
“What does general counsel recommend?”
“Proceed.”
“Audit?”
“Proceed.”
“Outside counsel?”
“Proceed.”
Maya looked toward her baby.
Amara had fallen asleep again.
“I authorize the meeting.”
Across the aisle, the older passenger pretended to study the safety card.
Maya continued.
“I do not authorize a conclusion.”
Anderson paused.
“What?”
“We meet.”
“We review.”
“We question him.”
“And we vote on evidence.”
“Not on panic.”
Anderson’s voice softened.
“That is why I needed you.”
Maya ended the call.
Captain Bennett stared at her.
Jessica did too.