Chapter 14 - The Warrant Issued
General Miller led me into a private secure briefing room.
He placed a black encrypted laptop onto mahogany table center.
"What final detail are you referring to, Logan?" Miller asked.
I opened the secondary data file retrieved from Vance's desk.
"Vance kept a personal audio recorder in his shirt pocket."
"It recorded his conversation with Amelia before I arrived today."
I tapped the play icon button on laptop screen.
The clear audio recording played through the room speakers loudly.
Amelia's voice echoed through the room: "Is everything ready?"
Vance's voice replied: "Yes, the milk distraction will work."
"While he is cleaning himself, my men will take device."
"He will never know his satellite phone was stolen today."
General Miller's face hardened as he listened to tape.
"They planned the milkshake incident as a cover distraction!" Miller realized.
"They wanted to steal your satellite device to erase files!"
"Correct, General," I answered, pointing at screen data lines.
"They knew I had the evidence stored on phone."
"They thought humiliating me would make me surrender and run."
"They completely miscalculated who they were dealing with today."
General Miller let out a low, cold chuckle of satisfaction.
"Arrogant fools always underestimate the discipline of true soldiers."
"The prosecutor is adding conspiracy to steal federal property charges."
"None of them will see the outside of prison again."
I closed the laptop screen, feeling a sense resolution.
The small town of Pine Ridge was free from corruption.
The military leak was plugged, and traitors were locked away.
I walked out of the courthouse onto the sunny steps.
The fresh air felt clean and crisp against my face.
I took off my stained flannel shirt and threw away.
Underneath, I wore a crisp white military t-shirt.
I adjusted my posture, standing tall under the afternoon sun.
Just as I reached the bottom step near transport car,
May you like
My satellite phone chimed loudly in my pocket again.
It was an incoming high-priority video transmission from headquarters.
