“That happens,” I said. “George used to say you have to walk the fields once in a while. Look at the cows.”
Mr. Hale smiled a little.
“I’d like to walk the fields,” he said. “If you’d show me.”
“I’d be happy to.”
Then he turned to Brandon.
“As for Mr. Pierce,” he said. His voice changed. Harder. “Brandon, I’m going to have to—”
“Wait,” I said.
They both looked at me.
“I’d like to make a request,” I said. “As the holder of account 0001.”
Mr. Hale nodded slowly. “Of course.”
“Section 14.3 says no branch in Millbrook can be reduced in staff without my consent,” I said. “I’m assuming that includes the branch manager.”
Mr. Hale blinked. “I… suppose it does.”
“Then I don’t consent to Mr. Pierce being fired.”
Brandon’s head came up.
Shelly stared at me.
“Dot,” she said. “He fired me. He was going to close the bank. He talked to you like dirt.”
