Chapter 6
Ramsey’s eyes moved from Natalie to the camera and back again.
His hand dropped slightly.
Then a woman’s voice came from behind the parked military training vehicle.
“No need for the camera. I saw everything.”
Ramsey turned.
The color drained from his face.
Colonel Elaine Mercer stepped into view.
She was in her fifties, tall, sharp-eyed, and calm in the way a blade is calm before it cuts.
Her uniform was immaculate.
Her posture was controlled.
Her expression did not show shock.
It showed confirmation.
Ramsey snapped upright.
“Colonel Mercer,” he said quickly. “Ma’am, this recruit was being insubordinate.”
Mercer walked toward them slowly.
Every recruit straightened.
Natalie’s cheek still burned, but she did not look away.
The colonel stopped beside the backpack, bent down, and picked up the photograph Ramsey had dropped.
For one moment, her face softened.
Then she looked at Ramsey.
“Do you know who this man is?”
Ramsey swallowed.
“No, ma’am.”
Mercer held the photo carefully.
“Major Andrew Brooks.”
Ramsey’s eyes flickered.
It was tiny.
But Natalie saw it.
The colonel saw it too.
Mercer’s voice remained calm.
May you like
“He filed three complaints about you before his death.”
Read Part 7 to find out why Ramsey’s old buried case suddenly came back to life on that training field.
