Chapter 7 - WHAT HAPPENED TO CUTLER’S
The state suspended Cutler’s adaptive grant pending a full audit.
The store was not closed.
Its hunting customers did not lose access because of one employee’s misconduct. Its remaining staff were interviewed, and ordinary firearm sales continued under Nora’s supervision.
The false attendance reports were referred for administrative and financial review. Cutler’s was required to account for every grant-funded purchase and repay the portion spent outside approved purposes.
Nora terminated Jace’s management authority that afternoon.
She did not publicly scream at him or throw him onto the street. She removed his keys, suspended his employment and told him future decisions would be made after the audit.
Jace looked toward me as if I had done it.
I had not.
He had created the records.
He had left the boxes unopened.
He had chosen the words heard by an entire store.
Walter’s nephew and the other complainants were invited to give formal statements. None were required to return to Cutler’s or accept apologies.
Three months later, the review allowed the store to reopen its adaptive program under probation.
Nora repaid misused funds from the store’s operating reserve and sold several competition fixtures Jace had purchased improperly.
The accessible bench was assembled.
The range doorway was widened.
Appointments were separated from sales quotas so employees were not rewarded for rushing participants.
Every clerk completed training covering safe evaluation, disability etiquette and equipment adaptation.
Nora asked me to lead the first session.
I declined.
“It should be taught by someone local who will remain accountable after I leave.”
Walter agreed to serve as volunteer program adviser, but only if Nora hired a certified instructor and gave participants an independent way to report mistreatment.
She accepted.
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The program became smaller than the one Cutler’s had advertised.
It was also real.
