My original flight is compromised. You will arrange for a private jet immediately. Captain Miller, I'd be honored if you'd fly it. You seem to be the only person here with a functioning moral compass." "Captain Miller," stunned, just nodded.
"It would be my privilege, doctor." And finally, Emily said, looking directly at Mark Harrington, I'm going to need you to make sure Mr. And Mrs. Harrington are not on any of those new flights. In fact, I believe they are now material witnesses in an FAA investigation.
They should probably be detained indefinitely. Mark Harrington saw her. He saw her smile and he finally understood. He hadn't just lost a fight. He had lost the war.
"Wait," he yelled, scrambling over. "Please, Dr. Vance, Emily, I we apologize. My wife, she's she's not well. She's high-rung.
It was a mistake. A terrible, terrible mistake. Please don't do this. I I have a meeting. It's It's the most important meeting of my life."
Emily looked at him, her expression one of mild curiosity, as if observing a new species of insect. Your meeting, she said, with the GTI fund. Oh, I know. I'll be there. I'm the keynote.
I'm the one who tells them whether your Vulture Capital firm is a good investment for their transport fund. Mark Harrington's mouth opened and closed. No sound came out. It's a funny thing, Karma, Emily said, picking up her briefcase. You thought I didn't belong in seat 1A.
And now you're not going to belong in your own boardroom. The ripple effect of the Vance protocol was immediate and catastrophic. But not just for the airline. For the Harringtons, the world had shrunk to the size of a plastic chair in the airport police substation. Officer Chen and Officer Davies had formally taken their statements.
"She she pushed me," Catherine had insisted, tears streaming. But the 4K video from the passenger in 2C showed unequivocally that Emily Vance had not laid a single finger on her. It did, however, show Catherine shoving Emily's shoulder as she stole the seat. Mom, that's assault, Officer Chen said, his voice flat. And right here, this is you destroying her property, her seat.
That's criminal mischief. We have to sight you. Sight me? Catherine shrieked. She grounded a plane.
Yes, Mom, Officer Davies said, which, as we understand it from the FAA, she is contractually entitled to do. You, however, are not entitled to assault a passenger. You'll need to appear in court on this date. Mark Harrington, meanwhile, was on the phone watching his life's work disintegrate. What do you mean?
They pulled their money. He hissed into his phone. Tell them it's a lie, a rumor. His partner's voice was tiny on the other end. Mark, they don't care.