“Ms. Carter, the director of inflight operations is joining us by phone. The captain is also available.”
“Good.”
He hesitated.
“Would you prefer to use the airport office?”
“Yes.”
They walked into a small operations room near the gate.
Rebecca remained outside after agreeing to share her recording and provide contact details.
Before Elena entered the office, Rebecca touched her arm.
“Ms. Carter?”
“Yes?”
“I’m glad I recorded it. But I wish I’d said something sooner.”
Elena looked at her.
“You did speak up.”
“Not when she first insulted you.”
Elena nodded.
“Next time, perhaps you’ll know how much it matters.”
Rebecca offered a small smile.
Then she returned to the gate.
Inside the office, Thomas connected a call with the director of inflight operations, Patricia Shaw, and the head of human resources, Allison Grant.
Elena knew them both.
She explained what happened.
Not dramatically.
Not as a demand for revenge.
She described the exact sequence, the confirmed ticket, the witnesses, and the recorded statements.
Patricia sounded appalled.
“Dana Whitcomb?”
“Yes.”
There was a pause.
Then Patricia said, “We had a previous service complaint involving that employee.”
Elena’s attention sharpened.
