And disliked the newer reporting structures Naomi's leadership team had introduced.
When Richard asked whether a particular flight could be categorized as company-related travel, Edmund gave a vague response suggesting it wouldn't create a problem.
Richard treated that vague response as authorization.
It wasn't.
But the flight proceeded.
Nobody immediately discovered the discrepancy.
The next arrangement became easier.
Then another.
The irregular movements were infrequent enough that they didn't attract immediate attention.
Richard carefully avoided flights that would conflict with obvious owner travel.
He also relied on the fact that different people handled scheduling, crew assignments, expenses, and billing.
A discrepancy visible in one system might not be immediately obvious to someone working in another.
That was precisely the kind of coordination failure Naomi had spent her career trying to eliminate.
And it was happening inside her own aviation operation.
Six months after the conference, Charles requested something more ambitious.
He needed an aircraft to transport himself and three business guests from the New York area to Palm Beach.
The trip was important to him.
A group of investors would be traveling for a private gathering at one of his resort properties.
He wanted a beautiful long-range jet.
Impressive service.
And the appearance of having a dedicated aircraft at his disposal.
He called Richard directly.
"Can you get us the Horizon jet?"
Richard hesitated.
"When?"
"Saturday afternoon."
Richard checked the schedule.
The aircraft was listed for travel from Teterboro to Columbus, Ohio.
The passenger was Naomi Ellis.
He knew the name as a corporate executive.
But he had never met her.
And the scheduling document didn't include a photograph.
"There's an owner flight."
Charles sighed.
"Can it be moved?"
Richard frowned.
"Not without authorization."
Charles paused.
Then said, "Find out whether the principal is actually traveling."
Richard looked at the calendar.
The reservation had been entered by Naomi's executive office.
It carried a high-priority authorization code.
But there had been several schedule changes recently.
Richard convinced himself that the flight might be tentative.
He contacted Edmund Royce.
The former administrator claimed he hadn't heard about the Columbus trip.
Richard asked whether Naomi would actually use the aircraft.
Edmund didn't know.