Chapter 14 - The Last Copy
The court order arrived at 18:40.
It froze the evidence server and prohibited distribution of the files until a judge reviewed the classification dispute. Rourke's lawyers argued that the records contained sensitive procurement details and could damage national security.
The families were sent home without answers.
Maria Ortega stood in the hallway, holding her daughter's drawing.
“Are they going to hide it again?” she asked.
“No,” I said.
I wasn't sure how we would stop it. But I knew what I could do.
The evidence did not exist in one place. Cho had made copies. I had submitted originals to counsel. Ruiz had sealed the physical records. Lang had turned over the audio. The server was important, but it wasn't the only copy.
Mercer gathered the team in a small conference room.
“We need a lawful route to preserve and disclose the evidence.”
Ruiz opened her laptop. “The inspector general already has jurisdiction over the safety investigation. The court order only freezes the server. It doesn't erase the signed statements or physical records.”
“Then send the chain-of-custody inventory,” Mercer said.
“We can. But Rourke's office may challenge every item.”
“Let them.”
I looked at the clock.
“There's another copy.”
Everyone turned.
“Before I left Redstone, I sent a sealed package to the families' attorney. It contains the original inspection tags, the photographs, and a sworn timeline.”
Mercer frowned. “Why wasn't that in the evidence inventory?”
“Because it was delivered before the formal investigation began. I didn't want the command to know where it was.”
Ruiz smiled for the first time in days.
“That's a lawful independent copy.”
We called the attorney. He confirmed the package was secure and had not been opened.
The next morning, the inspector general filed an emergency motion to preserve the evidence and release the safety findings to the affected families. The judge ordered an expedited hearing.
Rourke's injunction was denied.
The court found that the evidence could be reviewed without disclosing operational details and ordered the investigation to continue.
When the ruling came through, Mercer placed a hand on my shoulder.
“You kept your head.”
“I kept copies.”
“Sometimes that's the same thing.”
Then Ruiz entered, holding a new report.
“General, the financial review found another payment.”
“To whom?”
She placed the page in front of us.
The recipient was a private consulting company owned by Rourke's brother.
May you like
The amount was larger than every previous payment combined.
And the date was three days after the first vehicle fire.
