Paula looked uncomfortable.
“It had not gone through the usual corporate staffing review.”
“Then why was the termination executed?”
“Mr. Voss represented it as a local role consolidation within his delegated authority.”
Miriam turned to Graham.
“Did you discuss Caleb Mercer’s Westbridge inspection finding when deciding to terminate him?”
“No.”
Daniel Hsu spoke.
“Did you discuss Mercer’s behavior related to the Westbridge delay?”
Graham hesitated.
“We discussed overall operational alignment.”
“Define that.”
“Team responsiveness.”
“Commercial awareness.”
“Management cooperation.”
Daniel’s expression did not change.
“Did Mercer violate a maintenance procedure?”
“No.”
“Attendance problem?”
“No.”
“Documented performance deficiency?”
“We had concerns.”
“Written?”
“I had notes.”
“Formal corrective action?”
“No.”
“Customer complaint naming him?”
“No.”
“Safety violation?”
“No.”
Miriam closed the file.
“Effective immediately, do not alter any record connected to Mercer, the Westbridge aircraft, related maintenance activity, or Charlotte staffing decisions.”
Graham sat forward.
“Miriam.”
“I’m not finished.”
“Do not discipline any employee who clocked out this morning until corporate review determines the facts.”
“They abandoned work.”
“That is one fact.”
She replied.
“It is not all facts.”
Graham’s mouth tightened.
“Charlotte needs leadership right now.”
“Yes.”
Miriam said.
“That is why Daniel is taking temporary oversight of maintenance operations.”
The call ended ten minutes later.
At noon, Daniel Hsu boarded a flight to Charlotte.
At 12:34, Caleb sat in his truck outside a grocery store.
He had not gone home yet.
He could not.
Nora was at school until three.
He had several hours before he needed to become Dad.
He did not know how.
His checking account contained $1,842.
Rent was due January first.
Utilities.
Insurance.
Groceries.
Truck repair.
He might receive unemployment, but not immediately.
He had enough for a few weeks.
Maybe longer if careful.
The Christmas tree envelope was still in the kitchen drawer.
Eighty dollars.
Caleb considered putting it back into the bank.
Then imagined Nora’s face.
He hated himself for caring about a tree when he had just lost his income.
He hated Graham.
Then hated himself for hating Graham because anger solved nothing.
His phone contained fifty-three unread messages.
Coworkers.
Friends.
People from Northstar he had not spoken to in years.
His former supervisor Frank Bell.
Frank’s message said:
“Ronan called.”
“Do not sign anything.”
“Call me.”
Another message came from a number Caleb did not recognize.
“Miriam Caldwell, Northstar board.”
“Please contact me before making any employment decision elsewhere.”
Caleb stared.
Then put the phone down.
He was too tired to interpret hope.
At one-thirty, Ronan called.
“You home?”
“No.”
“Where?”
“Parking lot.”
“Which one?”
“Why?”
“Because I asked.”
Caleb told him.
Ronan arrived fifteen minutes later with two coffees.
He parked beside Caleb.
They sat in the truck.
Neither spoke for a while.
Finally, Ronan said:
“You going to call the board?”
“Maybe.”