Page 9 of Disciplining Dana

Kurt’s eyebrows shot up. “Threats?”

“Of potential lawsuits. Insurance claims. Fears of negative press that could arise if it ever got out that a seasoned geologist was allowed to operate in the field—encouraged, it could easily be spun—in the unsafe manner she has been. Especially if it got her—or worse yet, someone else—killed.”

“But she’s the one making these choices, and Dana’s never put anyone else in harm’s way, including me. She always does these things on her own.”

“And you think that’ll excuse anything at the end of the day?” Gary shook his head. “She’s well known in the industry. Smart. Charismatic. Attractive.” He gave Kurt a look. “You of all people know this, and don’t for one minute think our competitors won’t make absolute hay out of it if anything were to happen to her.”

“What could they do?”

“Umm… really? It’s a small pond we’re all swimming in, and if it were to get around that McKerr-Dennison doesn’t give a shit about its people, allows them to get themselves killed in the pursuit of profits, it won’t only be talent we’ll struggle to retain. The negative media attention would drive clients away in droves.”

“You seriously think it could come to that?”

Gary shrugged. “Doesn’t matter what I think. It’s what the insurance and PR flacks think. And the board. They think Dana’s done exemplary work up till now, but…”

“They’re gonna toss her ass to the curb because they got what they wanted,” Kurt replied bitterly.

“Nobody’s tossing anyone’s ass anywhere.” Gary raised his hand. “Not yet, anyways. I said threats, Kurt. And for now, that’s all they still are.”

“But you’re concerned.”

“I’ve been concerned for quite a while now. Let’s just say due to recent developments, I’m a little more so than previously.”

“You know what I’ve done to try and help. You know how I feel about her methods.”

“I know how you feel about Dana,” Gary said, pointedly, letting the words hang in the air.

“Okay. And what’s your point?”

“You and I both know Dana’s an incredible person. She’s intelligent, warm, giving… everything you could want from a friend and co-worker. She’s an enormous asset to the company, but she’s also a liability, and the scales are starting to tip where that liability is becoming greater than the reward.”

Kurt harbored no illusions that Gary didn’t know—or at least suspected—some of the true nature of how close he and Dana were. He’d taken a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to their relationship so far, and understandably so. Kurt had zero doubt that was why they were having this conversation right now, because if Dana were let go, Kurt had little doubt Gary would believe he’d be right behind her.

And he wasn’t wrong.

“She needs discipline, but you know as well as I how she rebels at any attempt to apply it,” said Kurt.

“I do, but she’s on thin ice. If we have another incident like what we just got through… she won’t survive.”

“She’s been lucky so far.”

“Yeah, but that luck will run out someday. Trust me.”

The room went quiet as the muted sunlight streaming through the windows cast shadows across the desk and walls.

“So, what now?” Kurt asked quietly.

“Do you think she’s ready to be back in the field?”

This past weekend Dana had pushed herself to go to the club, despite all the frustration she’d tried but failed to hide. Kurt was pretty sure he knew why.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure she is.”

“Good.” Gary opened a folder. “This should be a simple one, honestly. And hopefully one she can’t get in too much trouble with.”

“Where is it?”

“Here. In the US.” Gary pushed a stack of stapled papers across the desk. “Two years ago, Dana did an initial analysis of rare earth sites in Colorado based on US Critical Mineral’s niobium find near Colorado Springs. We thought she’d be focused on the Gunnison Range, where they’d been searching, but as she often does, she went in another direction.” He pointed to a map on one of the pages. “Here.”

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