She turned back to Marcus. "The server door is locked. But the bin is open. You have three minutes. If I come back on Monday and that machine is jammed again, I'm writing you up for improper equipment usage."

"Paper shredder malfunction: Stuck condition detected. The shredder's motor has been overloaded, causing a jam. To resolve, perform the following steps: 1) Turn off the shredder and unplug it from the power source. 2) Inspect the shredder blades and remove any debris or obstructions. 3) Check the shredder's motor and gearbox for damage. If the issue persists, contact a qualified technician for repair or replacement."

The gears caught, spun backward, and with a wet, tearing sound, the wadded mass of glossy paper and confidential documents spat out into the bin. The red light clicked off. The green light returned. The machine hummed, ready for more.