Chapter 11 - The Hospital Statement
Daniel was transported to a hospital near the airport.
Rachel accompanied him until airline representatives arrived.
The burns were painful but superficial.
The damaged socket caused a deeper injury where the prosthetic had twisted against scar tissue.
Doctors treated the area and advised him not to attach another device until the swelling subsided.
Daniel sat upright in the hospital bed wearing a plain gown.
Without the uniform and prosthetic, he looked more vulnerable.
But not smaller.
Detective Marcus Reed from airport police took his statement.
Monica remained nearby.
Daniel described each event without exaggeration.
Cynthia complained about his seat.
Insulted the prosthetic.
Took the coffee pot.
Poured it.
Touched the damaged arm.
Reached for Kayla’s phone.
Offered money.
Marcus asked whether Daniel wanted charges filed.
Daniel frowned.
“That is not my decision.”
“You are the victim.”
“I’m a witness. Apply the law.”
Marcus had interviewed many angry victims.
Daniel’s restraint surprised him.
“You don’t want to see her punished?”
“I want the truth documented.”
“That may lead to punishment.”
“Then she chose it.”
Rachel gave her own statement.
Her hands shook when she described the coffee pouring over Daniel.
“I saw her smile before she lifted the pot.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
Kayla submitted the original video.
Paul and six other passengers provided recordings.
The cabin security footage was downloaded under federal seal.
Every angle showed the same thing.
Cynthia deliberately moved around the service cart.
Checked whether Rachel was looking.
Lifted the pot.
Walked two steps.
Then poured.
No turbulence.
No stumble.
No accident.
Daniel’s phone rang.
The federal laboratory had received the prosthetic.
The memory module was wet.
Technicians could not yet confirm whether the data was recoverable.
Daniel looked toward Monica.
“If it’s gone?”
“We rebuild the case.”
“With what?”
“The engineer’s testimony. Company documents. Other devices.”
“Not enough.”
Monica did not disagree.
Northstar’s attorneys had attacked every witness.
The malfunction logs connected corporate knowledge to real failures.
Without them, the company might escape accountability.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Cynthia had attacked him for taking space.
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She might now cost injured veterans years of safety reforms.
👉 Daniel survived the attack—but the federal case he risked everything to build could still collapse.
