Chapter 8 - THE SIGNATURE
Maya found Connor behind the motor pool after morning formation.
She shoved a copy of the statement against his chest.
“You signed this?”
Connor read the first paragraph.
His face changed.
“No.”
“Your name is on it.”
“That’s not my signature.”
Maya stared at him.
Connor pulled out his wallet and showed her the signature on his military ID paperwork.
Similar.
Not the same.
“They forged yours too,” Maya said.
Connor’s anger hit fast.
“I told Rourke I was done.”
“When?”
“Last night. After the fight video started moving around.”
Maya looked at him sharply. “What did he say?”
“That people who embarrass the chain of command don’t get second chances.”
Connor grabbed the statement again.
“He put words in my mouth.”
“Now will you put the truth in writing?”
He looked at her.
This time, he didn’t say no.
By noon, Captain Cole had Connor’s sworn statement, Noah’s video, and Maya’s photo of the pre-filled evaluation.
Cole looked sick.
“This is enough to pause the selection process.”
“Pause?” Maya asked.
“It’s enough to investigate. Not enough to convict anybody of a grand conspiracy.”
Maya hated that he was right.
Then Rourke made his next move.
At 1300 he posted the final evaluation schedule.
Maya’s name was still on it.
Except her test was different from everyone else’s.
Twelve-mile ruck at dawn.
Obstacle course immediately after.
Then three consecutive combatives rounds.
Tessa read the board and whispered, “He’s trying to break you.”
Captain Cole came up behind them.
“I canceled this.”
A clerk stepped from the office.
“Sir, battalion reinstated it ten minutes ago.”
Cole’s expression sharpened.
“Who at battalion?”
The clerk handed him the authorization.
Cole read the signature.
Then he looked at Maya.
May you like
“Someone above Rourke is protecting this.”
That changed everything.
