She was sitting in her home office.
The windows overlooked the quiet garden behind her house.
A cup of tea had gone cold beside her laptop.
Julian sat across the desk.
He looked exhausted.
Naomi turned another page.
"How many movements?"
Julian gave her the preliminary number.
She stared.
"That many?"
He nodded.
"Some are still being reconciled. We don't want to treat every documentation error as an unauthorized flight."
She looked up.
"Good."
He seemed surprised.
She continued.
"I want accuracy, Julian. If a movement was legitimate but badly documented, say so. If it wasn't authorized, establish that."
He nodded.
"Understood."
Naomi looked toward another section.
"What about the first officers?"
Julian opened his notebook.
"We've interviewed the crew members who were assigned to the relevant flights."
"Did they know?"
"Some understood that the passenger information was unusual. Others believed they were operating approved company movements."
She considered.
"Was anyone pressured?"
"Several described Richard as dismissive when they asked questions."
Naomi closed her eyes.
Of course.
The same behavior she'd experienced had apparently affected other employees for months.
She looked toward Julian.
"Did anyone report it?"
"One junior crew member raised a concern through the management company."
"What happened?"
"The issue was treated as an interpersonal disagreement."
Naomi stared.
"Not an operational concern?"
"No."
For several seconds, she remained silent.
Then she asked, "Who reviewed it?"
Julian provided the relevant management information.
Naomi made a note.
The problem wasn't simply that Richard behaved arrogantly.
It was that people around him had learned to minimize the significance of his arrogance, even when it interfered with accurate communication.
That frightened her.
Aviation depended on people being willing to speak clearly when something was wrong.
A captain who discouraged legitimate questions could create conditions where important information remained unspoken.
Naomi looked toward the report.
"Did we find evidence of unsafe flying?"
Julian shook his head.
"Not from the material reviewed so far. The identified concerns involve authorization, documentation, crew communication, and possible improper commercial use. The qualified specialists are continuing the operational review."
She nodded.
"Then let's not claim more than we know."
"Agreed."
He looked toward her.