Chapter 3 - THE SECOND TIME
Lena should have backed off.
That was what Vaughn expected.
Instead, she started writing everything down.
Date.
Time.
Location.
Witnesses.
Words.
Every incident went into a small green notebook she kept zipped inside her uniform pocket.
February 11.
Vaughn moved her assigned vehicle without authorization.
February 14.
Called her “princess” during formation.
February 18.
Told Private Owen Price, “Don’t take orders from Mercer unless you want people thinking you’re her boyfriend.”
February 22.
Blocked the supply-room doorway for almost two minutes while she repeatedly told him to move.
February 27.
The second complaint.
This time, Lena bypassed Keller.
She gave it directly to First Sergeant Cole Ramsey.
Ramsey read the first page.
His eyebrows rose.
“You documented all this?”
“Yes, First Sergeant.”
“You have witnesses?”
“Yes.”
“Anyone willing to speak?”
Lena hesitated.
“I don’t know.”
Ramsey sighed.
“That’s the problem.”
“The problem is Vaughn.”
“The problem is proving intent.”
“He’s doing it in front of people.”
“And people laugh.”
“Because they’re afraid he’ll turn on them.”
Ramsey studied her.
“You really believe that?”
“I know it.”
Ramsey closed the folder.
“All right.”
Lena felt relief.
Until he added:
“I’ll handle it informally.”
“No.”
Ramsey’s eyes narrowed.
“Excuse me?”
“I filed a formal complaint.”
“And I’m your first sergeant telling you I can resolve it.”
“The first one disappeared.”
Ramsey became still.
“What first one?”
Lena watched his face.
“The complaint I gave Staff Sergeant Keller.”
“I never saw one.”
“That’s the point.”
Ramsey stared at her for several seconds.
Then he stood.
“I’ll look into it.”
“Can I get a receipt for this one?”
His expression hardened.
“A receipt?”
“Something showing I submitted it.”
“You think I’m going to lose it too?”
“I think I need a record.”
Ramsey pushed the folder across the desk.
“If you don’t trust your chain of command, Mercer, maybe you should go somewhere else.”
Her throat tightened.
“I’m not accusing you.”
“It sounds like you are.”
“I’m asking for proof that I followed procedure.”
Ramsey stared at her.
Finally, he signed a small acknowledgment slip.
Lena kept it.
Two weeks passed.
Nothing happened.
Then Vaughn approached her outside the gym.
He was alone.
Lena immediately reached for her notebook.
He laughed.
“Seriously?”
“What do you want?”
“You’re becoming a problem.”
“Then stop giving me things to write down.”
Vaughn stepped closer.
“You think that notebook makes you powerful?”
“No.”
“You think Hale cares about you?”
Lena froze.
She had never mentioned Colonel Hale.
Vaughn saw it.
And smiled.
“Yeah.”
He tapped the pocket holding her notebook.
“You’re not the only person who hears things.”
“Stay away from me.”
“Or what?”
“I’ll report this too.”
“To who?”
He leaned closer.
“The same people who buried the other two?”
Lena felt ice move through her chest.
He knew.
Not guessed.
Knew.
Vaughn backed away.
“Have a good night, Mercer.”
She watched him leave.
Then she pulled out her phone.
She didn’t call Ramsey.
She didn’t call Keller.
She called battalion headquarters directly.
The colonel’s aide answered.
“Office of Colonel Hale.”
Lena took a breath.
“I need to report a problem.”
“What kind?”
Lena looked toward the corner Vaughn had disappeared around.
“The kind where someone inside my chain of command is warning the person I’m reporting.”
There was a pause.
Then the aide said four words that changed everything.
May you like
“Can you come now?”
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