Chapter 7 - The File That Should Have Been Locked
The medical intake office was supposed to be secure.
“Who accessed my file?” I asked.
The medic behind the desk looked uncomfortable.
“I can’t just give you audit information.”
“You can if Commander Hayes authorizes it.”
Hayes stepped into the doorway.
“I authorize it.”
“What?”
Hayes moved closer.
The medic pointed at the screen.
“By who?”
“Captain Mason’s credentials.”
Silence.
Hayes’ face went stone still.
“Print the audit.”
The medic did.
Mason appeared.
He saw us.
Then he saw the screen.
“What is this?”
Hayes held up the audit.
“You tell me.”
Mason stared at it.
“I didn’t access her file.”
“Your credentials did.”
“Then someone used my login.”
“Who has your password?”
“Nobody.”
I watched his face.
Fear.
Not guilt.
Fear.
“Commander, I swear to you—”
Hayes raised a hand.
Mason looked at me.
“I didn’t give Briggs anything.”
I had not mentioned Briggs.
Hayes noticed too.
“Why did you say his name?”
Mason’s face lost color.
Nobody moved.
Finally, Mason sat down.
Two hours later, the tournament continued while military investigators quietly copied logs from the admin network.
Nobody announced anything.
Nobody canceled the matches.
Hayes wanted the evidence untouched.
I wanted Briggs to believe nothing had changed.
Before my semifinal, Owen Reed found me behind the bleachers.
“You need to know something.”
“What?”
He looked terrified.
“Last night I saw Briggs in Captain Mason’s office.”
“What time?”
“After midnight.”
“Did he see you?”
Reed shook his head.
I turned.
Briggs stood twenty feet away.
He was staring directly at Reed.
Not at me.
Reed whispered, “He knows.”
Briggs smiled.
Reed froze.
I stepped between them.
And for the first time all week, I spoke loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
“Do that again, Sergeant.”
Briggs lowered his hand.
“What?”
“Threaten him again.”
His eyes went cold.
“Good.”
I moved closer.
“Then you won’t mind explaining the gesture to Commander Hayes.”
May you like
Briggs looked past me.
Hayes was already walking toward us.
