Chapter 13 - VANCE’S COUNTERATTACK
Captain Vance was educated, polished, and careful.
Unlike Braddock, he did not shout.
He denied ordering harassment.
Denied stealing equipment.
Denied forging records.
He claimed Ava manipulated the evidence after learning General Monroe would inspect the base.
“She wanted to impress her father.”
The accusation spread quickly through unofficial channels.
Some soldiers began questioning the timing.
Ava had hidden her family connection.
The general had arrived at the exact moment she was attacked.
The situation looked dramatic enough to create doubt.
Avery—no, Ava—felt the old fear return.
Everything she accomplished could still be dismissed as privilege.
Daniel refused to defend her publicly.
Not because he doubted her.
Because any statement from him could compromise the independent investigation.
Ava understood.
But understanding did not make the silence easier.
Jonah remained beside her.
“You have recordings.”
“He’ll say I edited them.”
“You photographed the equipment before your father scheduled the inspection.”
“He’ll say Dad warned me.”
Mrs. Gaines, a civilian inventory clerk, overheard them.
She stepped forward.
“I can prove he didn’t.”
Weeks earlier, Ava had submitted a handwritten question about the serial number through the standard supply system.
Mrs. Gaines stamped the date.
The request existed before Daniel’s inspection was scheduled.
Vance later ordered her to destroy it.
She kept a copy because the instruction felt wrong.
The original document connected Ava’s investigation to the missing equipment long before her father became involved.
Vance’s story collapsed.
Then digital experts recovered deleted messages from his computer.
One message to Braddock read:
Pressure Monroe until she withdraws the complaint.
Another said:
May you like
If she reacts, use the injury to remove her.
👉 Vance had ordered Braddock to break Ava—but the next recovered file revealed they had targeted other wounded soldiers before her.
