Chapter 11 - The Man Everyone Trusted
Nobody wanted Ellis to be the leak.
That made the evidence worse.
Command Sergeant Major Grant Ellis had served thirty-one years. He was the person junior soldiers went to when their chain failed. He remembered spouses’ names, children’s surgeries, promotion dates.
He had also been the man who brought the missing complaint log to Colonel Hale.
“Maybe his account was compromised,” Hale said.
Reed nodded. “Maybe.”
But they could not assume it.
He entered, saw Reed, CID, and the closed door, and immediately understood.
“You think it’s me.”
Hale’s expression hurt more than anger would have.
“Did you access the briefing packet at 0213?”
“No.”
“Where were you?”
“Home.”
“Anyone with you?”
“My wife.”
CID seized his government laptop.
The login had come from his credentials, but not his machine.
Someone had used a desktop in the headquarters operations room.
Major Daniel Pryce.
Hale’s executive officer.
Pryce had drafted responses to senior headquarters. He had access to investigations, schedules, and visitor logs.
He also had been invisible because nobody had been looking at him.
Molina found Pryce in the parking lot heading toward his car.
“Sir, we need you to come back inside.”
Pryce smiled too quickly. “What’s this about?”
“Your access to a restricted packet.”
His smile vanished.
Then CID recovered a deleted message from his personal phone.
To Paul Kessler.
THEY HAVE COLTER. RINA TOO. YOU NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THIS.
Pryce stared at the screen and said nothing.
Pryce finally looked at him.
“I was trying to protect the command.”
“From what?”
“From becoming a headline.”
Hale’s face hardened. “You protected the people creating the problem from the people reporting it.”
Pryce’s jaw flexed.
“You think headquarters rewards commanders who let scandal spread?”
Lena, watching from the doorway, spoke before anyone could stop her.
“Maybe that’s the problem.”
His expression changed.
Not guilt.
“You,” he said softly.
Lena froze.
Pryce looked at Reed.
“You think this started with Vaughn?”
May you like
He gave a humorless laugh.
“It started before Mercer ever got here.”
