Chapter 5 - THE CAPTAIN WHO STOPPED TALKINGCaptain Rachel Moore arrived at Sophia’s office at 8:05 that evening.
She did not knock.
She slipped inside.
Closed the door.
Locked it.
Sophia looked up.
Rachel’s hands were trembling.
“I filed the complaint.”
Sophia remained seated.
“I know.”
Rachel froze.
“You saw it?”
“Before someone stole the folder.”
Rachel’s face collapsed.
“Oh God.”
“Sit down.”
“I can’t.”
“Rachel.”
The captain finally sat.
Sophia waited.
Rachel looked toward the door.
“Vanessa didn’t change the readiness numbers.”
Sophia frowned.
“Then who did?”
Rachel whispered a name.
“Brigadier General Malcolm Voss.”
The room became very quiet.
Voss was scheduled to arrive at Fort Liberty the next morning.
He was also Vanessa’s former battalion commander.
The man she had described as relentless.
The leader who had taught her that fear created excellence.
Sophia leaned forward.
“What did he change?”
“Vehicle readiness.”
“Why?”
“Because an inspection was coming.”
“How much?”
Rachel looked sick.
“Enough to make an unready battalion look deployable.”
Sophia’s eyes hardened.
“That can get soldiers killed.”
“I know.”
“Why did you withdraw the complaint?”
Rachel’s eyes filled.
“My husband was active duty.”
Sophia understood before she finished.
“They threatened his career?”
Rachel nodded.
“He received orders three days later.”
“To where?”
“Alaska.”
Sophia said nothing.
Rachel wiped her eyes.
“Vanessa told me she couldn’t protect me.”
“Did she threaten you?”
“No.”
That surprised Sophia.
Rachel continued.
“She begged me to withdraw it.”
“Why?”
“Because Voss had already destroyed someone else.”
Sophia leaned forward.
“Who?”
Rachel hesitated.
“Eric Dalton.”
Now Sophia understood the major’s fear.
Not all of it.
But enough.
A knock suddenly struck the office door.
Rachel jumped.
Sophia rose.
“Who is it?”
James answered.
Sophia unlocked the door.
He entered carrying a tablet.
His expression was grim.
“We found the person who entered your office.”
Rachel stopped breathing.
James turned the screen.
Security footage showed a figure entering Sophia’s office.
The face was partially obscured.
But the uniform was visible.
Sophia recognized the person immediately.
Rachel whispered:
“No.”
May you like
Sophia stared at the screen.
It was Vanessa Cole.
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