It was an internal notice from Northstar's compliance department.
Naomi stepped out of her vehicle and entered the hangar.
She noticed the white private jet first.
It was impressive.
Its polished fuselage reflected the overhead lights, and the gold-and-brown stripes gave it an unmistakable luxury appearance.
But she was not there to admire the aircraft.
She was there to verify it.
She walked toward the executives standing beside the tool cart.
And within ninety seconds, the transaction began falling apart.
Back inside the hangar, Naomi ended the phone call.
"Yes," she repeated. "Cancel the transfer."
The man closest to her stopped laughing.
Richard stared at her.
"Who are you talking to?"
Naomi lowered the phone.
"My financial team."
Richard rolled his eyes.
"That's enough."
She bent down, picked up her handbag, and walked toward the tablet folder.
Martin stepped in front of her.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To retrieve my documents."
"You need to leave."
Naomi looked past him toward Daniel, the security guard.
"Please call your security supervisor."
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Ma'am, I can—"
"Now."
Richard interrupted.
"Daniel, don't take instructions from her."
Naomi turned toward Richard.
"You seem confused about something."
Richard crossed his arms.
"I don't think so."
"You are hosting a meeting involving a transaction worth seven hundred and seventy million dollars. You have just ordered security to physically remove the person representing the buyer without verifying her identity."
Richard gave a dismissive laugh.
"Anyone can claim to be a buyer."
"That's true."
"Exactly."
"Which is why you should have checked."
She reached into her handbag and removed the black leather identification holder.
This time, she opened it.
Inside was her corporate identification card, bearing her photograph, her name, and her position as chief executive officer of Northstar Aviation Holdings.
She held it out.
Daniel read it.
His expression changed immediately.
"Mr. Voss..."
Richard barely glanced at the card.
"What?"
"I think you should look at this."
Richard took the identification holder.
His eyes moved across the card.
Then he looked at Naomi.
Then back at the card.
The smile slowly disappeared from his face.
"You're..."
"Naomi Brooks."
Richard's mouth opened slightly.
Martin stepped closer.
"Wait. You're the principal?"
"Yes."
Richard looked toward Peter.
Peter had stopped smiling.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Richard attempted to recover.
"Well, this is obviously a misunderstanding."
Naomi looked at the tablet folder lying several feet away.
"Is it?"
"We weren't informed that you would be arriving without an escort."
"You received three emails confirming my arrival."
"Well, I wasn't personally aware—"
"You were personally aware enough to order security to remove me."
Richard's face tightened.
"Let's not make this bigger than it needs to be."
Naomi gave him a cold look.
"You made it bigger when you decided that my appearance mattered more than my identity."
Martin shifted his weight.
"Ms. Brooks, I apologize for the confusion."
Naomi looked at him.
"You're the one who kicked my documents across the floor."
Martin swallowed.
"I didn't know who you were."
"Would that have made it acceptable if I had been an ordinary employee?"
He had no answer.
Peter stepped forward.
"Perhaps we should move into the conference room and discuss the transaction."
Naomi looked at him.
"Why?"
Peter blinked.
"To complete the meeting."
"Do you still believe the person standing in front of you is not the buyer?"
"No, of course not."
"Then perhaps we should discuss the behavior that occurred before you discovered my identity."
Richard exhaled sharply.
"Ms. Brooks, I understand you're upset, but we have a schedule to maintain."
Naomi picked up the tablet folder.
"Not anymore."
Richard had expected an angry confrontation.
He had expected Naomi to demand an apology, perhaps insist on disciplinary action against the guard, and then continue with the transaction.
He had not expected her to walk toward the aircraft.
Naomi stopped beneath its open cabin door.
"Who is responsible for this aircraft's maintenance records?"
Richard answered quickly.
"Our technical department."
"Name?"
"Chief engineer, Robert Lang."
"Is he here?"
Richard glanced toward Martin.
"He's probably in the service office."
"Call him."
Richard frowned.
"Why?"
"Because I want to discuss the engine documentation."
"We've already provided everything."
"No, you haven't."
Naomi opened the tablet folder.
She brought up a report and held the screen toward him.
"This aircraft's left engine underwent a major component replacement twenty-three months ago. Your records indicate the replacement was performed at a certified facility in Georgia."
"Correct."
"The facility's records indicate that no such replacement was registered."
Richard's expression changed.
"That sounds like an administrative issue."
"Perhaps."
She swiped to the next page.
"This aircraft's right engine has a similar discrepancy."
Martin looked toward Richard.
Richard ignored him.
Naomi continued.
"Two aircraft have incomplete engine service histories. One has an unverified component replacement. Another has a discrepancy between its recorded flight hours and the maintenance database."
Peter stepped closer.
"Those matters were addressed in the technical disclosure."
"No, they weren't."
Naomi looked at Richard.
"You certified that all maintenance records were accurate and complete."
"They are."
"Then why are the records inconsistent?"