Chapter 19 - The Last Page
The review took months. The authenticated command logs, Nina's original maintenance records, Dr. Lane's warnings, Eli's recordings, and the financial evidence told one consistent story. Sloane and Voss had hidden a known security flaw, manipulated the route record, and then tried to silence the people who could expose it.
The prosecution would take time. I learned that justice wasn't one dramatic gavel strike. It was a hundred careful decisions made by people who refused to look away.
The Army withdrew the finding that I had ordered the fatal route change. My corrected service record acknowledged my actions at Kharif Pass, and the formal notice stated that I had not caused the ambush. Eli and Ben's families received the findings before they were released publicly.
Rourke testified about his failure to verify the original report. He accepted a reprimand and asked to be transferred away from command. When he visited me, he didn't ask for forgiveness.
"I should have listened the first time," he said.
"Then listen to the next person who has no power," I told him.
Atlas recovered from his injured paw. An independent veterinary and behavior team found he was not a danger to the public and recommended retirement rather than euthanasia. Ortega brought the papers to my small rented house with a grin he couldn't hide.
"Congratulations," he said. "Your roommate is officially a veteran."
I laughed for the first time in what felt like years.
At a quiet ceremony honoring Eli and Ben, Tessa placed a letter in my hands. "He left this with his mother before deployment," she said. "She couldn't bring herself to open it. She asked me to give it to you now."
I touched the edge of the paper.
May you like
"What does it say?"
Tessa shook her head. "I don't know. But I think you're finally ready to read it."
