He looked at Jimmy.
Jimmy nodded.
Only then Pete handed it to Beth.
She noticed.
Trust did not transfer with ownership.
Useful lesson.
Beth placed the drive inside her handbag.
“Pete.”
“Yes?”
“If anyone asks—”
“I've never seen you.”
Beth smiled.
“Ray said the same thing.”
Pete laughed nervously.
“Ray owes me twenty dollars.”
Jimmy shook his head.
“This investigation is becoming unprofessional.”
Beth looked toward him.
“You started by offering me forty.”
“That was before I knew you owned manufacturing companies.”
“And now?”
“Now I charge consulting rates.”
She smiled.
“Send invoice.”
Pike returned twenty minutes later.
No logs.
Instead, Martin Voss walked beside him.
Jimmy’s expression hardened.
Beth’s did not.
Voss was forty-seven.
Lean.
Perfect suit.
Too perfect for factory floor.
He looked at Beth with surprise that immediately transformed into concern.
“Elizabeth.”
Jimmy noticed first name.
Beth did not respond similarly.
“Martin.”
He glanced toward Jimmy.
“I didn't realize Mr. Sullivan had returned.”
“He hasn't.”
“Then why is he here?”
Beth looked at him.
“Because I asked.”
Voss smiled politely.
“Of course.”
He lowered his voice.
“Can we talk privately?”
“No.”
A few employees slowed nearby.
Voss noticed.
Beth continued.
“Why was Jimmy Sullivan terminated?”
“Personnel issue.”
“Which one?”
“Insubordination.”
“Specific act?”
“He repeatedly shut production without authorization.”
“Because of an active safety defect.”
Voss looked at Jimmy.
“That was his interpretation.”
Jimmy stepped forward.
“It was manufacturer specification.”
Voss ignored him.
Beth said:
“I saw the bypass.”
Voss’s face changed slightly.
Then recovered.
“Maintenance modification.”
“Authorized by?”
“I'd have to review.”
“Alan says he doesn't know.”
Pike looked uncomfortable.
Voss glanced at him.
Beth saw hierarchy in that look.
Not partnership.
Warning.
She continued:
“Who authorized the restart after Jimmy's shutdown?”
Voss adjusted his cuff.
“Elizabeth, this is not the place.”
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“You keep answering where we should talk instead of what I'm asking.”
Voss’s smile disappeared.
Beth stepped closer.
“Who authorized Line Four to restart?”
Silence.
Workers were watching now.
Voss knew.
Beth knew he knew.
Finally:
“Daniel Mercer approved operational continuity pending inspection.”
Jimmy exhaled.
There.
The COO.
Beth’s eyes narrowed.
“Daniel knew about the bypass?”
“I did not say that.”
“Did he?”
“I don't know.”
“You were in the regional conference Thursday.”
“Yes.”
“Was Line Four discussed?”
Voss looked around.
“This is inappropriate.”
Beth smiled.
“Good.”
She turned to Pike.
“Line Four remains shut.”
Pike looked toward Voss.
Beth snapped:
“Do not look at him.”
Pike immediately looked back.
“You report to Crawford Holdings.”
“Understood.”
“Lock it out until independent inspection.”
“Yes.”
Beth turned toward Voss.