She turned toward the Chief Engineer.
“Where is the Maintenance Director?”
“On his way.”
“Call him.”
“Now.”
The engineer moved.
The CEO looked toward the surrounding technicians.
“All work on this aircraft stops until I understand exactly what happened.”
Nobody moved.
She raised her voice.
“Did you hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Tools were lowered.
The hangar settled into tense silence.
The CEO turned back to the Single Dad.
He looked worse now.
The adrenaline that had carried him upright was fading.
“You need sleep.”
He almost smiled.
“Good observation.”
She ignored the sarcasm.
“When did you last eat?”
He looked toward the clock.
“Dinner.”
“What dinner?”
“Yesterday.”
The CEO stared.
“Sit.”
“I’m fine.”
“Sit down.”
He looked at her.
Then at the stool.
“Is that an order?”
“Yes.”
“Am I employed?”
She paused.
“Currently.”
He sat.
That almost made her smile.
Almost.
The Maintenance Director arrived twenty minutes later.
He entered the hangar confidently.
Too confidently.
Expensive jacket.
Tablet.
Coffee.
He saw the CEO.
Then the open aircraft.
Then the Single Dad.
His confidence shifted.
“Good morning.”
The CEO held the failed coupling inside the evidence bag.
“What is this?”
The Maintenance Director looked.
“A feed-system fitting.”
“Try again.”
He frowned.
The CEO held it closer.
“This almost sent my aircraft into the air with a fuel-system failure.”
His expression changed.
“I was informed repairs were completed.”
“After you released it.”
Silence.
The CEO stepped closer.
“You signed the aircraft ready at four twenty yesterday.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“All required inspections were complete.”
“Apparently not.”
He looked toward the Single Dad.
The mechanic sat silently.
The Maintenance Director said:
“The additional concern was not part of the scheduled inspection.”
The CEO stared.
“You were told about a pressure anomaly.”
“It was within acceptable digital tolerance.”
“Was it normal?”
He hesitated.
“That’s not the same question.”
“No.”
“It wasn’t normal.”
The Maintenance Director shifted.
“It was minor.”
The CEO looked toward the failed fitting.
“Does this look minor now?”
No answer.
She continued.
“You knew he wanted to investigate.”
“Yes.”