Chapter 4 - The Officer Who Kept Copies
Nathan's attorney requested a recess.
Twenty minutes later, everyone returned.
Nathan looked calmer.
Too calm.
Captain Reeves spoke first.
“The recording lacks context.”
Emily almost laughed.
“Context?”
“My client was discussing administrative options.”
“You mean changing my evaluation if I withdrew my complaint?”
Reeves ignored her.
Catherine opened another folder.
“Captain Daniel Morris.”
The door opened.
Nathan turned.
A thirty-four-year-old officer entered.
His face was pale.
“Morris?” Nathan whispered.
Daniel sat down.
Hollis spoke.
“Captain, you understand you're required to answer truthfully?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did Major Cross direct you to alter Lieutenant Parker's evaluation?”
Daniel looked at Nathan.
Nathan stared back.
“Captain?” Hollis repeated.
Daniel took a breath.
“Yes, sir.”
Nathan exploded.
“You're lying.”
“Major,” Reeves warned.
“You signed it too!”
Daniel flinched.
Catherine immediately noticed.
“Explain that.”
Daniel looked down.
“He ordered me to prepare the revised evaluation.”
“And you did?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Daniel's voice cracked.
“Because I was afraid.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“Of what?”
Daniel finally looked at him.
“You.”
Silence.
Nathan shook his head.
“This is ridiculous.”
Daniel continued.
“You told me Parker was trying to destroy the squadron.”
“She was!”
“You told me if I didn't support you, my next assignment would be somewhere my family couldn't follow.”
Nathan's face hardened.
“That was a joke.”
“Nobody laughed.”
Catherine leaned forward.
“Captain Morris, what was the text message Saturday evening?”
Nathan turned toward her.
Daniel froze.
Catherine clarified.
“I saw only part of it on Major Cross's phone.”
Daniel swallowed.
“I told him Lieutenant Parker still wouldn't retract her statement.”
“And that she kept copies?”
“Yes.”
“Why did that matter?”
Daniel looked at Emily.
“Because Major Cross ordered us to delete certain emails from the shared system.”
The room went silent.
Reeves closed his eyes.
Hollis stared at Nathan.
“You ordered destruction of records?”
“No.”
Daniel reached into his folder.
“I kept copies too.”
Nathan's face changed.
“You son of a—”
“Major!”
Hollis slammed his palm against the table.
Nathan stopped.
Daniel slid a flash drive forward.
“I couldn't keep doing it.”
Catherine looked at him.
“Why come forward now?”
Daniel glanced toward Emily.
“Because she was the only person brave enough to say no.”
Emily's eyes filled.
Daniel continued.
“And I helped punish her for it.”
Nathan stood abruptly.
Reeves grabbed his sleeve.
“Sit down.”
Nathan looked around the room.
Parker.
Morris.
Hollis.
Catherine.
May you like
Everyone he had believed he could control.
Nobody looked afraid anymore.
