Marcus looked down.
Patricia closed her eyes briefly.
The head of corporate security spoke.
"Ms. Mitchell, would you like the branch cleared?"
Diana shook her head.
"No."
Patricia looked surprised.
"I want business to continue."
Diana turned toward the customers.
"I'm sorry for the disruption."
The older woman who had been watching shook her head.
"You don't owe us an apology."
Diana nodded once.
Then she looked toward Ashley.
"Please reopen customer service on the east side."
Ashley blinked.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Kevin."
"Yes?"
"Take over operations."
His eyes widened.
"For today?"
"For now."
Patricia stared.
"You can't just remove me."
Diana looked at her.
"I can."
Patricia's mouth tightened.
"I have an employment agreement."
"So do I."
That almost made Kevin choke.
Diana continued.
"You are being placed on administrative leave pending independent review."
"Independent?"
"Yes."
Patricia laughed nervously.
"You're the complainant and the CEO."
"Which is why I will not be conducting the investigation."
Patricia stopped.
Diana turned toward corporate security.
"Preserve video."
"Already done."
"Customer-service logs."
"Yes."
"Security calls for the last twenty-four months."
Patricia's face changed again.
Diana noticed.
Interesting.
"Employee complaints."
Kevin looked toward Patricia.
Diana caught that too.
"All of them."
The head of security nodded.
Patricia stepped forward.
"This is retaliation."
Diana looked at her.
"No."
"What else would you call it?"
"Governance."
Patricia's face hardened.
"You came in here looking for a problem."
"I came in here looking for the truth."
"And you found what you wanted."
Diana shook her head.
"I found what you gave me."
The words landed harder than shouting would have.
Corporate security escorted Patricia into the back office to collect personal items.
Diana remained in the store.
She did not celebrate.
She did not smile.
She walked toward the Aurora display.
Ashley approached carefully.
"Ms. Mitchell?"
Diana looked at her.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I should've said something earlier."
Diana studied the young woman's face.
"You wanted to."
Ashley nodded.
"I was afraid she'd fire me."
"Has she threatened people before?"
Ashley hesitated.