Hayes spoke without taking her eyes off Walker.
“Staff Sergeant Turner was not missing, Sergeant. He was placed under protective custody after reporting that aircraft 6021 had been used in an unauthorized operation.”
Turner stepped forward.
“I told them the aircraft wasn't safe,” he said, his voice shaking. “I told them someone had changed the inspection results.”
Walker shook his head.
“Shut up.”
Turner flinched.
Hayes immediately stepped between them.
“Don't speak to him.”
Walker looked at her.
“You don't understand what happened!”
“Then tell me.”
Walker glanced toward the ceiling.
For one brief moment, his eyes seemed to follow a small security camera mounted above the hangar entrance.
Hayes noticed.
She slowly looked up.
Then she looked back at Mitchell.
“Lieutenant.”
“Yes, ma'am?”
“Is the surveillance system recording?”
Mitchell checked his tablet.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Hayes turned toward Walker.
“Then let's make sure everyone hears your explanation.”
Walker lowered his head.
And for the first time since the argument began, he had nothing to say.
CHAPTER 2 — THE SIGNATURE THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE EXISTED
The hangar was sealed within four minutes.
Two security teams guarded the main doors. Another team secured the maintenance office, while a military investigator began photographing the aircraft's identification markings and collecting the documents left on the inspection desk.
Sergeant Walker sat in a small security room with his hands restrained in front of him.
He had stopped shouting.
He had stopped making threats.