She photographed it.
“Clothes.”
“What?”
“Do not dry-clean them.”
Marcus stared.
“You expect litigation?”
“I expect preservation.”
Fair.
She sat.
“Tell me from arrival.”
He did.
Every detail.
Times approximate.
Names.
Conversation.
Escalation.
The word Adrian used.
Security.
Police.
Floor.
Richard.
Appointment.
Elena wrote without interruption.
When Marcus finished, she asked:
“Any physical threat from you?”
“No.”
“Raise your voice?”
“Not before I was on the floor.”
“Touch employee?”
“No.”
“Touch jewelry?”
“No.”
“Case?”
“Glass.”
“Opened?”
“No.”
“Private folder?”
“Yes.”
“Was there signage restricting it?”
“No.”
“Did staff initially direct you to wait near the display?”
“Yes.”
“Witnesses?”
“Employees.”
“Cameras?”
“Everywhere.”
She nodded.
“Good.”
Marcus leaned back.
“I’m not interested in destroying Ellison.”
“I know.”
“I’m not interested in getting two officers fired because a store manager gave them bad information.”
Elena looked at him.
“One officer forced you down after you complied.”
“I know.”
“We investigate facts.”
“Then decide.”
Marcus nodded.
“Exactly.”
She continued.
“But the store matters.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Marcus looked toward the city.
“Because Adrian had four opportunities to verify.”
Elena waited.
“He refused every one.”
“That isn't a mistake.”
“Not the same kind.”
Marcus said nothing more.
He did not yet know what he meant.
But he would.
Richard Ellison spent the afternoon discovering how little he knew about his own flagship.
Adrian Cole was removed from duties immediately.
Not fired.
Suspended pending investigation.
Richard called outside counsel.
Human Resources.
Security.
The young associate who had checked Marcus in was interviewed first.
Her name was Maya Chen.
She said:
“I verified him.”
Richard leaned forward.
“How?”
“Executive appointment queue.”
“Did Adrian know?”
“I told Noah.”
“Noah?”
“The associate near the center counter.”
Noah confirmed.
He had told Adrian.
Adrian apparently assumed the executive queue entry was fraudulent or misassigned.
Richard asked:
“Had that ever happened?”
“No.”
“Then why did he assume that?”
Noah looked uncomfortable.
“I don't know.”
Richard waited.
Noah looked at the floor.
“I think I do.”