“The company will give you a six-month severance package and a neutral reference.”

“What’s the catch?” Michael asked.

“You sign a strict nondisclosure agreement about the exact circumstances of your sudden departure,” Carla said.

Michael looked at the eight-by-ten photo of Noah’s bruised arm.

He slid the glossy print into the next clear evidence sleeve.

“The agreement legally bars you from suing Apex Logistics for wrongful termination,” Carla said.

“I don’t have the time or the money for a civil lawsuit,” Michael said.

“The severance package pays exactly twenty-four thousand dollars,” Carla said.