“You're on administrative leave.”
His face went blank.
“Excuse me?”
“Effective now.”
“You don't have enough information.”
“That is why it's leave, not termination.”
His face reddened.
“You are making a mistake.”
“Possibly.”
Beth nodded.
“I prefer reversible mistakes.”
That silenced him.
Security escorted Voss from the plant.
Jimmy watched him go.
“Remind me never to work for you.”
Beth glanced toward him.
“You already did.”
“That was technically for Harrington.”
“I own Harrington.”
“That's the problem.”
She smiled.
Then her phone rang.
Daniel Mercer.
She looked at screen.
Jimmy saw the name.
“Answer.”
Beth looked at him.
“Why?”
“See what he knows.”
She accepted.
“Daniel.”
His voice was loud enough Jimmy could faintly hear.
“Elizabeth, where are you?”
Beth looked at Jimmy.
“At Harrington.”
Silence.
Then Mercer's voice.
“What?”
She put the call on speaker.
Jimmy raised his eyebrows.
Beth spoke.
“Line Four is shut.”
Daniel Mercer answered immediately:
“You can't do that before Monday's production run.”
Jimmy and Beth looked at each other.
Neither had mentioned Monday.
Beth’s voice softened.
“Why?”
Mercer paused.
“What?”
“Why can't I shut it down?”
“We have a delivery commitment.”
“Which one?”
Another pause.
Beth continued:
“You knew Line Four was involved.”
“Of course.”
“From whom?”
“Operations.”
“Which operations?”
“Elizabeth, what is this?”
She smiled slightly.
“That's a very good question.”
Mercer disconnected.
Jimmy stared at phone.
Beth looked toward him.
“That felt guilty.”
“You're learning.”
She almost laughed.
Then expression changed.
“How long has Line Four been producing these parts?”
“Three months.”
“For whom?”
“Defense subcontract.”
Beth froze.
Jimmy saw it.
“What?”
She looked toward the press.
“Nothing.”
“No.”
“That wasn't nothing.”
Beth turned.
“Crawford Holdings has a pending acquisition.”
“Of?”
“A company that depends on these components.”
Jimmy stared.
“So if Harrington misses delivery—”
“The acquisition valuation changes.”
“Who negotiated it?”
Beth already knew answer.
“Daniel Mercer.”
The air seemed colder.
Jimmy said:
“You think he's keeping a dangerous line running to protect a deal.”
“I think I need evidence before I think anything publicly.”
“Privately?”
Beth met his eyes.
“Privately, I think somebody fired you because you threatened a transaction worth hundreds of millions.”
Jimmy laughed once.
“Great.”
“What?”
“I thought I was unemployed.”
He looked toward press.
“Now apparently I'm inconvenient.”
Beth’s expression softened.
“You're also right.”
He looked at her.
She continued.
“That matters.”
Jimmy almost said something flirtatious.
Instead:
“My daughter still needs robotics fees.”
Beth smiled.
“There he is.”
“What?”
“The real priority.”
He nodded.
“Always.”