“Mechanic.”
Claire said it deliberately.
Graham’s smile flickered.
“How refreshing.”
Jake knew immediately he disliked him.
Graham spoke about the acquisition.
Manufacturing expansion.
Production efficiency.
Equipment reliability.
Claire tried changing subjects twice.
Graham ignored it.
Jake listened.
Machines.
Finally something familiar.
Graham said:
“The plant's unexpected downtime is mostly operator error.”
Jake looked toward him.
“What kind of downtime?”
Graham paused.
“Industrial equipment.”
“What kind?”
“Automated assembly systems.”
“Symptoms?”
Graham smiled politely.
“I doubt—”
Claire said:
“Answer him.”
Graham looked at her.
Then Jake.
“Thermal shutdown.”
“Intermittent?”
“Yes.”
“Same machines?”
“Mostly.”
“Same shift?”
Graham’s smile disappeared.
“What does that matter?”
Jake shrugged.
“Could matter a lot.”
Graham looked toward Claire.
“Claire, surely this evening isn't the place—”
Jake interrupted.
“You've replaced coolant pumps?”
Graham stared.
“How would you know?”
“You called it thermal shutdown.”
“That's usually the first thing people replace.”
“Then sensors.”
“Then controllers.”
Graham’s expression changed again.
Jake continued.
“Problem keeps returning?”
Silence.
Claire stared toward Graham.
“Does it?”
He looked annoyed.
“Occasionally.”
Jake nodded.
“Then it isn't the pumps.”
Graham laughed.
“You haven't seen the equipment.”
“No.”
“Exactly.”
“But if three components keep failing after replacement, you're probably not looking at a component problem.”
“What are you looking at?”
“System condition.”
Graham said:
“Our engineers disagree.”
Jake smiled.
“Your engineers work for the company selling Claire the plant?”
Silence.
Claire’s eyes sharpened.
Graham looked toward her.
“This is absurd.”
“Maybe.”
Jake lifted his glass.
“You asked.”
He had not.
But nobody corrected him.
Later, Claire pulled Jake onto the balcony.
City lights below.
Cold night air.
“You did that deliberately.”
“Did what?”
“Interrogate Graham.”
“I asked questions.”
“You embarrassed him.”
“He embarrassed himself.”
Claire leaned against the railing.
“Do you really think the equipment problem is systemic?”
“I think he lied.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“About what?”
“The frequency.”
“You noticed that?”
“He said ‘occasionally’ after you pressed him.”
“That means more than occasionally.”
Claire stared toward the ballroom.
“Acquisition closes Tuesday.”
“How much?”
“Four-point-six billion.”
Jake whistled.
“No pressure.”
Claire laughed without humor.
“We've been reviewing it eight months.”