Chapter 2: The Man Who Knew Too Much
I spent the next twelve hours locked in an empty investigation room.
The walls were gray.
The lights were too bright.
And the silence was designed to break people.
Lieutenant Vane entered carrying a folder.
“You should apologize,” he said.
I looked up.
“For what?””
“For embarrassing me.””
I almost laughed.
“You slapped me in front of the entire unit.””
His smile disappeared.
“You’re still arrogant.””
He dropped the folder onto the table.
“Confession forms.””
I stared at them.
“You want me to confess to something I didn’t do?””
“I want you to understand reality.””
I leaned forward.
“Reality is that someone changed the footage.””
Vane laughed softly.
“Sergeant Cole, nobody believes you.””
Before I could answer, Captain Ward entered.
“Leave.””
Vane looked surprised.
“Captain—”
“That was an order.””
He left, but not before giving me a cold smile.
When the door closed, Ward sat across from me.
“You really believe someone framed you?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because the footage is fake.””
She was quiet.
Then she opened a tablet.
“I noticed something too.””
My eyes narrowed.
“You did?””
She showed me the video.
“The file was uploaded twice. The first version existed for six minutes before being replaced.””
Someone had tried to erase the evidence.
“Who had access?”” I asked.
Ward hesitated.
“Only senior personnel.””
A chill moved through me.
That meant the enemy wasn’t outside the base.
It was wearing the same uniform.
“Captain,” I said, “someone wanted me destroyed.””
She looked at me carefully.
“Then find out who before they destroy you completely.””
That night, while I sat alone in the barracks under temporary restriction, my phone received an unknown message.
One sentence.
*Stop searching, or your next accusation will come with a body.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
A photograph.
May you like
It was a picture of my bedroom.
Taken moments ago.
