Lupita covered her mouth.
Ethan waited until the sound faded.
“Robert Sterling is suspended pending full audit. Patricia Lane and Karla Whitcomb are removed from guest service pending investigation. Any manager who buried reports will answer for it.”
The HR director from corporate, Naomi Brooks, stepped forward.
She was small, sharp-eyed, and carried a tablet like a weapon.
“We begin interviews in ten minutes,” Naomi said. “No retaliation. No deleted files. No private warnings. Anyone attempting to intimidate staff will be terminated and referred to legal.”
A murmur moved through the room.
That was the first mini-payoff.
Not justice yet.
But the door opening.
Then a bellman named Marcus raised his hand.
His voice shook. “Mr. Vance, if we already reported something and nothing happened, do we have to start over?”
“No,” Ethan said. “You do not have to prove your pain twice.”
Marcus lowered his head.
That was the second.
