Chapter 10 - My Brother's Name Was a Password

Seeing Liam's name on that login record made my skin crawl.

"How could somebody use his account?" I asked.

Grant explained that old credentials sometimes survived in poorly maintained systems. But this wasn't accidental. The attempt came from a computer inside the headquarters building, minutes after the memory card was opened.

"Somebody's watching," Addie said.

"And they're careless," Grant answered. "They left a trail."

She ordered the account disabled and requested preservation of the network logs. Then she told me something I didn't want to hear: I had to stop conducting my own investigation. Every uncontrolled search risked contaminating evidence or getting somebody hurt.

"Can I at least go to work?" I asked.

"That's between you and your doctor. But report every threat, and don't meet witnesses privately."

The next morning, Price called an emergency fitness-for-duty review. The room held a military physician, a personnel officer, a legal adviser, and Voss. I came in on crutches, with a fresh report from my orthopedic surgeon.

Price glanced at my brace. "Your medical limitations have become a distraction."

"My limitations are documented," I said. "So is the fact that you ordered me to withdraw an investigation."

The physician interrupted. "Colonel, this panel cannot be used to punish a patient for filing a complaint."

For a glorious second, Price looked like he'd swallowed a thumbtack.

Then Voss stood. "I need to amend my previous statement. Staff Sergeant Whitcomb did not threaten me in the dining hall. I blocked her intentionally. I was following direct instructions."

"Whose?" the legal adviser asked.

Voss looked at Price. "His."

Price rose so fast his chair struck the wall. "This man is lying to avoid discipline."

"Maybe," Voss said. "That's why I brought the messages."

He placed his phone on the table. It showed a chain of orders instructing him to create a public incident that would make me appear unstable. One text read: MAKE HER BREAK. SHE SIGNS TODAY.

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The review adjourned. My phone lit up with a message from Cora.

I FOUND THE VIDEO THEY DIDN'T ERASE. AND NORA, IT SHOWS WHO PUT THE PAPER IN VOSS'S POCKET.