Plus, a partially restricted report Noah filed with the Inspector General's office right before his death. Lena absorbed this, her grief channeling into clear purpose. They're hiding something. My son wasn't careless. He wouldn't have died in a simple training accident.
We can request an independent autopsy, Maya explained, but we need to act quickly. Once military burial occurs, getting permission to exhume becomes nearly impossible. "Do it. " Lena said without hesitation. "I want to know what really happened to my boy. " Elijah felt the weight of her trust, the same trust she'd placed in the army when Noah enlisted. "Mrs.
Mercer, challenging this could get complicated. They'll try to pressure you to accept their version and move forward with military honors. " "I don't want hollow honors. " Lena replied. "I want the truth. Noah tried to tell it and look what happened. " She stood up, smaller than Elijah, but equally resolute. "You're not just his escort anymore, Sergeant Booker.
You're my witness. " Maya watched her father's expression shift subtly. She recognized the moment he fully committed himself beyond protocol. This was about justice now, not just duty. "Tell me about him. " Elijah said softly. "Help me understand who I'm fighting for. " Lena's eyes welled up for the first time.
"He was quiet but sure about things. Joined up because he believed in serving something bigger than himself. " She pulled out her phone, showed them a photo of Noah in his uniform smiling. "He told me the army taught him that one person standing up can make a difference. He was right about that. " Maya said. "And he left us evidence.
The bruising, the Inspector General report, his warning to you. We can use these to justify delaying burial and requesting independent examination. " "The hold they placed on transport might actually help us. " Elijah added. "It gives us time to file properly. But we have to move fast. " Maya cautioned. "Once they realize we're building a case, they'll try to rush everything through standard military channels.
Lena nodded, her nurse's pragmatism returning. What do you need from me? Written statements about Noah's call. Any texts or emails showing his state of mind before death. And formal authorization to act as your legal representative.
Maya listed. You'll have it all within the hour. Lena turned to Elijah. And you? What will this cost you?
My career, possibly. He admitted. But I made a promise to bring your son home with honor. Real honor means truth, not just ceremony. The afternoon light slanted through the funeral home's small window, casting long shadows.
They spent the next hour documenting everything Lena could remember about Noah's last days. His concerns, his determination, his fear. As they prepared to leave, Maya's phone buzzed with a text from Tanya. Found complete surveillance footage. Need to meet after my shift.