“I know exactly what I'm doing.”
Mitchell secured the restraints around Walker's wrists.
The metallic click seemed louder than the aircraft engines in the distance.
One of the officers who had witnessed the argument whispered:
“Good Lord…”
Walker turned toward him.
“Don't just stand there! Tell them this is a mistake!”
The officer looked away.
Hayes approached Walker one final time.
“You asked me who I thought I was.”
She paused.
“Now you know.”
But she wasn't finished.
“Unfortunately, Sergeant, you're not the reason I came here.”
Walker swallowed.
“Then what do you want?”
Hayes looked toward aircraft 6021.
“I want to know why that aircraft was cleared for deployment three days ago despite having a maintenance failure that should have grounded it.”
Walker's expression changed.
The panic in his eyes became something else.
Fear.
“Ma'am…”
Hayes continued.
“And I want to know why the technician who reported that failure disappeared from the base two days later.”
The hangar became completely silent.
Walker stared at her.
Then he looked toward the maintenance office.
Hayes noticed.
So did Mitchell.
“Lieutenant,” she said quietly.
“Yes, ma'am?”
“Secure every exit.”
Mitchell immediately reached for his radio.
“Security teams, lock down Hangar 12. Nobody leaves until we complete the personnel verification.”
Walker's breathing became uneven.
“You don't understand.”
Hayes turned back toward him.
“Then explain it.”
He hesitated.
“I was following orders.”
“Whose orders?”
Walker said nothing.
Hayes moved closer.
“Sergeant, this is your opportunity to tell the truth.”