"She wanted to ask me about the accident."
"Are you in trouble?"
"That's what I thought at first."
Luis lowered his voice.
"Be careful. Hargrove doesn't like people who make him look bad."
Daniel picked up the caution sign and checked its base.
"Maybe he should worry more about people getting hurt."
Luis gave him a cautious look.
"You really said that?"
"Not exactly."
"Good. Because I have rent due Friday, and I can't afford to be brave."
Daniel understood. He had rent due Friday too.
They worked in silence for a few minutes. Then Luis leaned closer.
"Do you know what I heard?"
Daniel glanced at him.
"What?"
"Mr. Hargrove is trying to replace half the facilities team with a contractor. My supervisor said the decision is practically made."
Daniel stopped wiping the floor.
"Who told him?"
"Nobody knows. But people are saying it."
"How many jobs?"
"Forty-seven, according to one of the scheduling managers."
Daniel looked toward the elevator.
"Forty-seven?"
Luis nodded.
"My wife is pregnant. I just signed a new lease. If they cut my position, I don't know what I'll do."
Daniel felt a familiar weight settle in his chest.
He thought of the years he had spent working double shifts, the weekends he had missed, and the small savings account he was building for his daughter. He thought of the people on the night crew, some of whom had worked in the building longer than he had.
He also remembered Harold's hand gripping his as he thanked him.
For once, someone in the executive offices had asked what he thought.
He wasn't sure what would happen next.
But he knew he couldn't pretend he hadn't heard the warning.
At eleven thirty, Daniel received a message from the facilities director.
Please report to Conference Room B at noon. Attendance required.
He showed it to Luis.
Luis read it twice.
"That's not good."
"Maybe they just want a statement."
"Then why a conference room?"
Daniel folded the phone into his pocket.
"I'll find out."
Across the building, Richard Hargrove stood inside his office with the blinds closed. He had made three phone calls since leaving Maya's office. The first was to the facilities director. The second was to the head of human resources. The third was to a man whose name did not appear on the company's organizational chart.
"She wants all the reports," Richard said.
The man on the other end replied calmly.
"Give her what she requested."
"You don't understand. She's asking for everything. Complaints, disciplinary records, incident reports. She's bringing in internal audit."
"Then there is no reason to panic."
"She removed me from the investigation."
"Temporarily?"
"That's what she said."
A pause followed.
"Richard, listen carefully. You have been in this position long enough to know that the company cannot afford a scandal. The restructuring proposal needs to move forward. The board has already been prepared for the savings."
"What about the old complaints?"
"Those were closed."
"Some of them weren't."
"Then find out why they weren't."
Richard stared at the river beyond his window.
"And Daniel Brooks?"
"Who?"
"The maintenance employee. He was with Harold when Maya arrived."
"Does he know anything?"
"I don't know."
"Then don't make him important."
Richard ended the call.
For several seconds, he remained still.
Then he opened a drawer and removed a thin folder marked FACILITIES RESTRUCTURING — FINAL REVIEW.
Inside were spreadsheets, contractor proposals, staffing estimates, and a series of handwritten notes.
He flipped through them until he found a page with a name circled in red.
Daniel Brooks.
Beside it was a date from eight months earlier.
Richard's expression darkened.
He picked up the phone again.
"Get me the facilities director."
The day had begun with a fall.
By noon, the company was beginning to fracture.
At noon, Daniel entered Conference Room B with a notebook in his hand.
He had expected to find the facilities director waiting for him. Instead, he found six people seated around a long table. The facilities director, Peter Lawson, sat at the head. Beside him were two human resources representatives, a woman from operations, and a man Daniel recognized from the security office.
Richard Hargrove stood near the window.
Daniel stopped at the door.
"Mr. Brooks," Peter said. "Come in."
Daniel entered and took the empty chair nearest the wall.
"What's this about?"
Peter folded his hands.
"We're reviewing this morning's incident. We need to establish whether the safety procedures were followed."
"I already explained what happened."
"We understand. But there are additional concerns."
Richard opened his portfolio.
"Your assigned cleaning area was not properly secured. The caution sign was positioned too far from the wet surface, and the equipment was left unattended."
Daniel looked at him.
"The bucket was with me. I was cleaning the area when the gentleman slipped. The sign was knocked sideways when people moved around him."
"That's your interpretation."
"It's what happened."
Peter intervened.
"Daniel, nobody is accusing you of deliberately causing the accident. We simply need to establish whether there was a procedural failure."
"Then check the security cameras."
The room became quiet.
Richard glanced at Peter.
"The footage is being reviewed."
"Good," Daniel said. "It should show where the sign was and what happened."
One of the human resources representatives, a woman named Caroline Price, looked up from her notes.
"Did you receive any prior instruction about the placement of warning signs?"
"Yes. We have a safety briefing every month."
"And did you follow that instruction today?"
"I believe I did."
Richard tapped his pen against the table.
"Belief isn't evidence."
Daniel felt his face grow warm.
"Then the cameras can provide evidence."
Caroline looked toward Richard.
"That seems reasonable."
Richard's pen stopped moving.
Peter cleared his throat.
"There's another matter. We understand you were asked to attend a private conversation with Ms. Bennett and Mr. Whitaker."
"Yes."
"What was discussed?"
"Mr. Whitaker thanked me for helping him. Ms. Bennett asked what happened."
"Did you discuss any internal company matters?"
Daniel hesitated.
"We talked about the facilities department."
"What specifically?"
"She asked how long I'd worked here and whether I felt comfortable speaking up about safety concerns."
Richard leaned forward.
"And what did you tell her?"
Daniel looked at him.
"The truth."
"Which was?"
"That sometimes people are afraid to speak because they don't want to lose their jobs."
The room fell silent.
Peter looked uncomfortable.
Caroline stopped writing.
Richard's voice became colder.
"Are you suggesting that management threatens employees?"
"I'm saying people are worried about what happens if they complain."
"Have you personally experienced retaliation?"
Daniel considered his answer.
He could remember the warning he had received after reporting a faulty electrical panel. He could remember being removed from a preferred shift after asking for additional protective equipment. He could remember the way his supervisor had told him that a man who wanted to keep his job should learn when to stop asking questions.
But he also remembered his daughter, Emma, waiting for him at home.
"Yes," he said.
Richard's expression changed.
"Explain."
Daniel opened his notebook.
"Eight months ago, I reported an electrical outlet near the loading area. The cover was cracked, and there were sparks when the floor machine was plugged in. I submitted a maintenance request. Nothing happened for two weeks."