Chapter 18 - THE HEARING
The hearing room was smaller than Maya expected.
Just a long table, uniformed officers, legal counsel, investigators, and witnesses waiting outside.
Rourke entered in service uniform.
He looked calm.
Connor testified first.
“Yes, I tried to kick Sergeant Bennett in the face.”
“Why?” the investigating officer asked.
Connor swallowed.
“Because First Sergeant Rourke told me to make her quit.”
“Did you agree?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Connor looked toward Maya.
“Because I wanted the course slot, and because I owed him for helping my brother. I told myself it wasn’t a big deal.”
His voice cracked slightly.
“It was.”
Noah testified about the video.
Tessa testified about the false ruck time and altered gloves.
Pike testified about Vance’s orders.
Then Cole walked in.
Rourke’s attorney smiled.
“You previously gave a false statement in the Ruiz matter, correct?”
“Yes.”
“So your honesty is questionable.”
“Yes.”
The answer surprised everyone.
Cole continued.
“That is why I brought the statement I wrote three years ago before I had anything to gain from changing my story.”
The sealed letter was entered into evidence.
Then the door opened again.
Eli Ruiz entered with a cane.
Maya had not seen him in two years.
He walked slowly to the witness chair.
Rourke’s face changed.
Eli looked directly at him.
“You remember me?”
Rourke said nothing.
Eli placed his original statement on the table.
“I kept this because everybody told me what happened to me was an accident.”
He looked around the room.
“It wasn’t.”
Then he turned toward Maya.
“She was the only person who said that out loud when it cost something.”
For the first time in the hearing, Rourke looked afraid.
But the investigating officer had one final question.
“Mr. Ruiz, did Major Vance ever contact you after your discharge?”
Eli nodded.
“Three times.”
“What did he want?”
May you like
Eli’s answer changed the room.
“He offered me money to sign a new statement.”
