Original chart.
1A Walker.
1B Walker.
3D Sinclair.
Then another image.
06:40.
Walker unassigned.
Sinclair 1A.
Rachel looked at him.
"Did you hear any conversation before the change?"
Noah hesitated.
Clare whispered, "Be careful."
Marcus turned toward her.
"Do not instruct him."
Clare went silent.
Noah swallowed.
"Ms. Sinclair told Clare that her company was reviewing airline contracts."
Vanessa stepped forward.
"That's not a threat."
Noah looked at Rachel instead of Vanessa.
"She said employees who understood important customers were remembered when executives made recommendations."
Vanessa laughed.
"That's a normal business conversation."
Noah continued.
"Clare originally told her 1A was occupied and couldn't be moved."
Clare closed her eyes.
"Then after the contract was mentioned, she changed her answer."
Rachel looked at Clare.
"Is that true?"
Clare whispered, "Yes."
Robert stepped forward.
"She told me it was an operational accommodation."
Rachel looked at him.
"You approved it in forty-seven seconds."
Robert stiffened.
"We were trying to depart."
"Did you inspect the reservation?"
"No."
"Speak to Mr. Walker before approving?"
"No."
"Review the child's travel party?"
"No."
"Ask the reason code?"
"Clare said the passenger was disruptive."
Rachel's eyes hardened.
"What did he do?"
Robert looked toward Ethan.
"Refused the reassignment."
Rachel waited.
"That's the disruption?"
Robert said nothing.
Ethan finally spoke.
"This isn't only about today."
Rachel looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because Robert told me this was routine."
Robert's head snapped up.
"I did not."
"You called it a routine seating change."
"That's not the same."
Ethan looked at Rachel.
"Search prior complaints involving involuntary premium-cabin downgrades, family separation, VIP accommodation, and voluntary codes entered after objections."
Robert went pale.
"That could take days."
Rachel's hands were already moving.
"No."
She knew the compliance database.
Filters.
Terminal location.
Manager approval.
Keywords.
Within minutes, files appeared.
Nine in twelve months.
Then fourteen over two years.
Then twenty-two.
Some were minor.
Some unclear.
But several followed a pattern.
High-status passenger request.
Lower-status passenger displaced.
Complaint.
Manager review.
Closed as resolved.
Robert Cain.
Again.
And again.
Rachel opened one.
Family of four split after a premium customer requested adjoining seats.
Complaint closed.
Another.
Elderly couple downgraded after corporate traveler requested specific side of cabin.
Voucher issued.
Complaint closed.
Another.
Passenger claimed gate staff threatened removal after refusing to surrender a paid seat to a frequent-flier elite customer.
No video.
Closed.
Rachel looked at Robert.
"Where are the interviews?"
He didn't answer.
"Supporting notes?"
Nothing.
"Passenger statements?"
He rubbed his forehead.