CHAPTER NINE — TWO DIFFERENT STORIES
By early afternoon, two versions of the canceled demonstration were spreading among the invited guests.
Summit Arc said the north platform needed additional safety testing.
ClearPath’s message implied that a personal disagreement had disrupted a technically sound event.
Daniel learned about the second story from a warehouse mechanic who had received a screenshot from his brother.
The brother had been hired to drive a shuttle for the demonstration.
“They’re saying you brought a divorce fight into the workplace,” the mechanic said carefully.
Daniel read the message.
His first impulse was to demand that Vanessa call everyone she knew and deny it.
Instead, he called Priya.
“We need a public schedule for the tests,” he said.
“Specific dates, specific checks, and whoever signs the release.”
“I agree.
”
“Otherwise Adrian can keep pretending the cancellation is about me.”
Priya arranged a meeting with Kieran, Sonya, Warren, and Nadia.
They moved a folding table into the maintenance bay and worked through the remaining checks.
Nadia identified four tests that had not been completed.
Warren added two calibration steps for the replacement sensor.
Sonya insisted that the platform capacity remain at eighteen until the exit corridor was widened.
Kieran asked for a written procedure allowing the station operator to halt service without requesting marketing approval.
“That procedure already exists,” Priya said.
“Then put it on the wall where everyone can read it,” Kieran replied.
Daniel wrote the decisions on a whiteboard.
For the first time since landing in Denver, he felt he was doing the work he had moved there to do.
The conversation shifted from blame to practical responsibilities.
Nobody in the room asked whose marriage was failing.
Nobody cared whether Marcus had flown to the coast with Vanessa.
They cared whether a gate would latch when the mountain wind rose.
At three fifteen, Elise walked into the bay.
“I want you to know I’m ending ClearPath’s involvement in the demonstration,” she said.
Daniel set down his marker.
“That may be necessary, but it won’t fix the equipment.”
“I know.”
“The test crew needs authority to say no when the schedule changes.”
“They have it.”
“Then tell them yourself.”
Elise looked around the room at the mechanics and engineers.
“If any part of this system is not ready, you stop it,” she said.
“Nobody loses their position for telling me something I don’t want to hear.”
Kieran nodded once.
Nadia remained cautious.
“Would you put that in writing?” she asked.
Elise looked at her.
“Yes.”
Sonya handed the founder a clipboard.
“You can start here.”
Elise laughed despite the tension and signed the temporary stop-work order.
Daniel thought that might be the end of the day’s trouble.
Then Marcus appeared at the warehouse entrance with a woman in a green raincoat.
“This is Isabel Chen,” he said.
“She was on the first tram test Tuesday.”
Isabel’s face was drawn, and she held an ice pack against her wrist.
“I was told the test had been canceled,” Priya said.
“The official one was,” Isabel answered.
“But a private group went up afterward.”
Sonya looked sharply toward Nadia.
“Who authorized that?”
Isabel shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
“What happened?” Daniel asked.
She pulled back the cuff of her coat.
A purple bruise crossed the side of her wrist.
“The exit gate wouldn’t open,” she said.
“A man told us to wait while he reset the system.”
“How many people were there?”
“Twenty-three.”
“And how long did you wait?”
“Forty-six minutes.”
The bay went silent.
“Did anyone file an incident report?” Priya asked.
Isabel looked confused.
“They gave us free meal vouchers and said it had been a harmless rehearsal.”
