Chapter 8
Grey Ridge.
The mission that supposedly had no overwatch.
The mission where Daniel died.
One of the SEALs whispered, “I heard she held that ridge alone for six hours.”
Another said, “They said that story wasn’t real.”
Cassidy looked at Mercer.
“They said a lot of things.”
Before anyone could answer, military police entered the hangar.
Behind them came Major Nolan Price in cuffs.
His uniform was still clean.
That made the sight of him worse.
He looked at Cassidy like she was the problem.
“You don’t know what you interfered with,” he snapped.
Cassidy stepped closer.
For the first time all day, her voice shook.
Not with fear.
With eighteen months of buried grief.
“I know Daniel Hayes died waiting for clearance you never gave.”
Price’s face twitched.
Colonel Holt entered behind him, holding a folder.
“And I know why,” Holt said.
The hangar fell silent.
Holt opened the folder and removed several pages.
“Major Price altered route data on Grey Ridge. He did it again today. In both cases, enemy forces were waiting at the updated location.”
Price looked around desperately.
“This is classified.”
Holt’s voice hardened.
“No. This is treason.”
The word hit the room like a gunshot.
Treason.
Not mistake.
Not bad intel.
Not fog of war.
Treason.
Cassidy’s eyes burned, but she refused to blink.
Holt turned to her.
“Sergeant First Class Cassidy Walker, your assignment to today’s operation is hereby acknowledged on record. Your engagement saved four SEAL operators and prevented mission compromise.”
For a moment, Cassidy could not breathe.
Acknowledged.
On record.
Words that should have existed for Daniel.
Mercer stepped forward.
Then, slowly, he saluted her.
His whole team followed.
Then the medics.
Then the pilots.
Then the soldiers along the hangar wall.
May you like
Cassidy stood there with dust on her face and grief in her chest while the silence gave back what command had stolen.
Read Part 9 to see how Cassidy finally gave Daniel the truth he had been denied.
