Chapter 15 - The Man Behind the Reviewing Stand
"You're not supposed to speak to witnesses," I said when Miller came toward me.
He stopped just outside arm's reach. The air smelled of cut grass and wet canvas. Beyond the grandstand, hundreds of soldiers waited in formation, their brass and ribbons bright after the rain.
"I'm here as my father's guest," Miller said. "You can't keep me out of a public ceremony."
"Nobody's trying to stop you from watching it. You need to leave me alone."
He glanced at the press platform and lowered his voice. "If you tell them it was a misunderstanding, I can still make this easy. A new assignment. A medical retirement. No hearing."
"You can't make offers on behalf of the Army."
"I can make things happen."
He stepped closer. One of the military police officers assigned to the reviewing stand began walking toward us. Miller saw the movement and suddenly raised his voice.
"Ask her about Kunar! Ask Sergeant Vance why she left a radio operator inside that Humvee!"
People turned. A cameraman lowered his lens from the parade field. The words struck harder than the wheel chock. Our radio operator, Corporal Sean Avery, had been dead when I found him. I still remembered the blood beneath his helmet. I remembered closing his eyes.
"Don't use Sean's name," I said.
Miller's mouth curled. "Your medal has a story nobody wants to hear."
A firm voice came from behind me. "Then we'll hear the verified record, Lieutenant. Not your invention."
Henderson approached with Colonel Shaw. He didn't touch Miller or raise his voice. Shaw told the military police officer to escort Miller away from the witnesses. She informed him that he had violated the no-contact directive and would be required to explain his conduct.
The parade band struck its first note. Soldiers began to march, and I couldn't stop looking at the reporters who had heard the accusation.
May you like
Then a familiar voice from the aisle said, "I was there in Kunar. I know what happened to Corporal Avery."
It was Jax.
