Victoria lifted one hand to indicate she was fine.
She wasn’t.
“His wife was the patient?”
“Yes.”
“And he was blamed?”
“Officially, the inquiry said procedural errors couldn’t be excluded.”
“Who authorized the company response?”
“That’s what concerns me.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Say it.”
“The archived legal file contains an executive authorization.”
“Whose?”
Lauren took a breath.
“Yours.”
Victoria’s eyes opened.
“No.”
“I’m looking at it.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Your signature is on the document.”
Victoria’s hand tightened around the phone.
“What document?”
“A directive authorizing Hale Dynamics to contest Carter’s testimony, protect proprietary engineering records, and pursue enforcement of confidentiality provisions.”
Victoria felt sick.
“I’ve never heard his name.”
“The signature is yours.”
“I would remember.”
