“One misunderstanding.”

From the back of the lobby came Bernice’s voice.

“I punched out at eleven.”

Everyone turned.

She stepped forward.

“Worked till twelve forty.”

Another housekeeper raised her hand.

“Fourteen months.”

Another:

“Me too.”

Pierce looked around.

“Anything a fired housekeeper says is coming from resentment.”

Walter smiled.

“Then perhaps we need her notebook.”

Pierce froze.

“She made that up.”

“Nia photographed every page.”

Camille corrected him.

“Two hundred twelve entries.”

Pierce tried to recover.

“Pictures of a diary.”

Walter nodded.

“Fair argument.”

He looked at Paula Reed.

“Pull access badge logs.”

Pierce’s face changed.

Walter continued.

“Service door. Staff elevators. Every access after each person’s clock-out time.”

Paula already had the report.

“Fourteen months.”

She handed it to Walter.

Dozens of employees repeatedly used secure staff areas after officially leaving work.

Pierce said nothing.

Walter looked at his manager.

“No overtime?”

Silence.

“Your PIN approved payroll edits.”

Pierce’s face drained.

Walter took one step closer.

“That video goes to the police this morning.”

“For what?”

“Potential reckless endangerment.”

He glanced toward the door.

“You intentionally forced a vulnerable elderly person into dangerous weather for a staff entertainment video.”

Pierce finally lost control.

“I didn’t know who you were!”

Walter’s voice remained quiet.

“That sentence keeps getting worse every time you say it.”

Pierce stopped.

Walter continued.

“You’re terminated for cause.”

“Mr. Ellison—”

“No severance.”

“You cannot—”

“And fourteen months of back pay begins with your management bonus.”

Pierce stared.

“Dale.”

The bellman stepped forward.

“Show Mr. Pierce out.”

Pierce looked toward the side corridor.

Walter shook his head.

“Front door.”

Pierce looked through the glass.

Snow was coming hard again.

His expression said everything.

Walter said:

“Don’t worry.”

He opened the door himself.

“The car is waiting.”

Grant Pierce walked out.

Nobody laughed.

Walter made sure of that.

He did not want humiliation.

He wanted change.

The real work began after Pierce was gone.

Walter faced the staff.

“The clock is the clock.”

Nobody moved.

“You punch out, you go home.”

Bernice wiped one eye.

“Every hour you worked after clocking out gets paid.”

People began looking at each other.

“Miss Reed has the access logs.”

Then Walter looked toward Bernice.

“How long have you been putting off that knee?”

She became embarrassed.

“Two years.”

“Why?”

“Couldn’t take the time.”

“Take it.”

She blinked.

“What?”

“Paid.”

Bernice began crying.

Walter smiled.

“You’ve earned more than enough hours.”

Then the back door opened.

Nia entered.

Dale had gone to get her.

She stopped when she saw Walter.

For several seconds she did not understand.

Then she saw Camille standing beside him.

The employees.

Pierce gone.

The old coat hanging over Walter’s arm.