RICHARD LAWSON: "Because she doesn't understand how business works."
JONATHAN PIERCE: "Business is not the issue here."
RICHARD LAWSON: "It becomes the issue when someone uses their position to block a legitimate company."
JONATHAN PIERCE: "If the equipment failed testing, the review committee had a reason to reject it."
Richard turned away.
RICHARD LAWSON: "You sound like her."
Jonathan did not respond.
Richard dialed a number and waited.
After several seconds, someone answered.
RICHARD LAWSON: "Samuel, it's Richard."
He listened.
RICHARD LAWSON: "We have a problem."
The voice on the other end was too quiet for Jonathan to hear.
RICHARD LAWSON: "No, it's not a small problem. She made a scene in front of the entire command."
He paused.
RICHARD LAWSON: "I don't care what the official explanation is. I need the situation contained."
Another pause.
RICHARD LAWSON: "The recording is the problem. They have the entire thing."
He looked toward the office door.
RICHARD LAWSON: "Find out who controls the system."
Jonathan watched him carefully.
Richard lowered his voice further.
RICHARD LAWSON: "And I need to know whether the revised approval documents are still in the regional office."
He listened for several seconds.
RICHARD LAWSON: "Then don't let anyone touch them until we speak."
He ended the call.
Jonathan's expression had changed.
JONATHAN PIERCE: "What revised approval documents?"
Richard slipped the phone into his pocket.
RICHARD LAWSON: "Nothing you need to worry about."
JONATHAN PIERCE: "You just said the recording was a problem and asked someone about documents in the regional office."
RICHARD LAWSON: "I was talking about the contract."
JONATHAN PIERCE: "Then show me the contract file."
RICHARD LAWSON: "Not now."
JONATHAN PIERCE: "Richard, if there is a separate issue involving those documents, I need to know before I represent you."
RICHARD LAWSON: "You represent me in the incident. That's all."
Jonathan picked up his briefcase.
JONATHAN PIERCE: "I won't be able to advise you properly if you conceal relevant information."
Richard stared at him.
RICHARD LAWSON: "Just get the footage."
Jonathan left the office without another word.
Outside, the security commander was waiting near the corridor.
SECURITY COMMANDER: "Mr. Lawson, we need to confirm your contact details and arrange a formal interview."
RICHARD LAWSON: "My attorney has already spoken to you."
SECURITY COMMANDER: "We still need to complete the incident procedure."
RICHARD LAWSON: "I have nothing else to say."
SECURITY COMMANDER: "You may provide a statement through your attorney. For now, we need you to remain available."
Richard looked down the corridor.
He could see Evelyn through the open conference room door.
She was sitting at the table, writing her statement.
RICHARD LAWSON: "This isn't over."
SECURITY COMMANDER: "That will be determined through the formal process."
Richard shook his head.
RICHARD LAWSON: "You people have no idea what you're getting into."
The commander did not respond.
Richard was escorted toward a private waiting area.
At the same time, Daniel Reeves returned with another witness.
The man was a civilian contractor named Peter Wallace. He had attended the ceremony as a representative of a communications supplier and had been seated only a few rows behind Richard.
DANIEL REEVES: "Colonel, this is Peter Wallace. He says he heard Lawson discussing the procurement decision before the ceremony."
Evelyn stood.
EVELYN CARTER: "Thank you for coming forward, Mr. Wallace."
PETER WALLACE: "I wasn't sure whether I should get involved."
EVELYN CARTER: "You are not being asked to take sides. We simply need an accurate account of what you witnessed."
Peter nodded.
PETER WALLACE: "I understand."
Evelyn gestured toward an empty chair.
EVELYN CARTER: "Please, have a seat."
Peter sat down.
Daniel placed a recording device on the table after confirming that Peter agreed to the interview.
EVELYN CARTER: "Can you tell us what you heard before the ceremony began?"
PETER WALLACE: "I arrived about twenty minutes early. Mr. Lawson was talking with another man near the front row."
EVELYN CARTER: "Do you know who the other man was?"
PETER WALLACE: "I believe his name was Martin Hale."
EVELYN CARTER: "What were they discussing?"
PETER WALLACE: "The contract. I heard Mr. Lawson say the equipment was ready for approval and that the final review was only a formality."
Evelyn glanced at Daniel.
EVELYN CARTER: "Did he mention the technical assessment?"
PETER WALLACE: "Yes. He said the revised report had already been accepted."
EVELYN CARTER: "Did you hear who accepted it?"
PETER WALLACE: "Not clearly. But he mentioned the regional office."
Daniel leaned forward.
DANIEL REEVES: "Did he say anything about Colonel Carter?"
Peter nodded.
PETER WALLACE: "He said she had been making trouble for months. Then he said that after today, she wouldn't have the opportunity to interfere anymore."
The room became quiet.
Evelyn looked at Peter.
EVELYN CARTER: "Are those the exact words you remember?"
PETER WALLACE: "Not every word. But that was the meaning."
EVELYN CARTER: "Did you hear him threaten me?"
PETER WALLACE: "He didn't say he was going to hurt you. He said he was going to make sure you were removed from the process."
Evelyn nodded slowly.
EVELYN CARTER: "Thank you. That's important information."
Peter looked uncertain.
PETER WALLACE: "I should tell you something else."
EVELYN CARTER: "Go ahead."
PETER WALLACE: "I worked with Lawson Strategic Technologies last year. Not directly, but my company supplied some components for one of their systems."
EVELYN CARTER: "And?"
PETER WALLACE: "There were problems with the equipment. Serious ones."
DANIEL REEVES: "What kind of problems?"
PETER WALLACE: "The communication modules would lose connection under certain conditions. We reported it, but the company said the issue was caused by the testing environment."
Evelyn remained focused on him.
EVELYN CARTER: "Did you submit a written report?"
PETER WALLACE: "Yes. My company sent a technical notice."
EVELYN CARTER: "Do you still have a copy?"