Then asked me again.
“What did Mr. Hale do?”
I looked at my husband.
“He removed the tag.”
Victor shook his head.
“You don’t know that.”
“I watched you.”
“That machine had been inspected.”
“By whom?”
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Grace answered.
“By nobody.”
Another document appeared.
An email.
From Mateo Soto to Victor Hale.
February 16, 2013.
I remembered the first time Grace showed it to me.
My hands had shaken so badly I dropped my coffee.
The subject line read:
URGENT — FRYER 2 MUST REMAIN OFF.
Grace read only the essential sentence.
“Continued operation may result in catastrophic pressure failure, fire, serious injury, or death.”
She looked at Victor.
“Mr. Hale replied twelve minutes later.”
His answer appeared.
WE ARE NOT LOSING VALENTINE’S WEEKEND OVER A TEMPERAMENTAL FRYER. GET IT RUNNING.
Nobody breathed.
Victor turned toward his attorney.
“That email is out of context.”
Gerald did not respond.
