What do you recommend? I recommend we do not accept anything that requires you to go silent again. She said flatly. Whatever number they put on the table. Silence has no price in this case.
You went public today. That's done. The protection that gives you the public record, the documented cooperation. You don't trade that for a check. He nodded.
Agreed. The investigation will take time. The civil case will take longer. But Marcus, she turned slightly in her seat to look at him. You need to understand something.
You have now, as of this morning, changed the trajectory of this, not just for yourself. For every pilot, every mechanic, every dispatcher inside that organization who knew something was wrong and stayed quiet because they thought it didn't matter. They watched you walk into that press room today. They heard what you said. She paused.
My phone rang twice while you were reading the statement. Whistleblower inquiries. Two people independently from inside Callaway Regional asking if they could talk to us. Marcus stared at the highway. Two people, he said.
So far, she said. He thought about what Marsh had said. Sometimes all it takes is one person standing in the open before others feel safe enough to walk out of the shadows. He hadn't been sure he believed that when Marsh said it. He believed it now.
They were 20 minutes outside Mon when his phone rang through the truck's speakers again. He glanced at the dash, an Atlanta number, but not one he recognized. He answered it. Marcus Reed, a man's voice, older, rough around the edges, like someone who had spent years working with his hands. Yes, Marcus said, a long pause.
Then, my name is Earl Hutchkins. I've been chief of maintenance at Callaway Cala Regional for 11 years. Another pause. Longer. I saw your statement this morning.
Marcus kept his eyes on the road. Patricia had gone completely still in the passenger seat. Mr. Hutchkins, Marcus said carefully. I signed off on the inspection log, Hutchkins said.
His voice cracked slightly on the last word. Just slightly. On flight 1,147's hydraulic system. 3 Weeks ago, I signed it, another pause, but I wasn't the one who did the inspection. I was told to sign it by my supervisor, who was told to have me sign it by operations management.