Chapter 16 - DANIEL MAKES IT WORSE
Daniel was told not to speak publicly.
He did anyway.
That was his mistake.
A reporter caught him leaving the base.
Daniel said the allegations were retaliation.
The clip went viral.
His commander was furious.
Walter was more furious.
"You don't fight institutions by giving them ammunition."
Daniel snapped:
"You signed a false death report because you wanted to go home."
Walter went silent.
Daniel regretted it immediately.
He did not apologize immediately.
That mattered.
Hours later he did.
Walter accepted without pretending it had not hurt.
Daniel was temporarily reassigned pending review.
His friends stopped answering some messages.
One publicly defended him.
Another told him privately to stay away.
The loneliness surprised him.
Walter said:
"Now you know why people sign things."
Daniel looked at him.
Walter continued:
"Not because they're evil. Because they get tired."
Daniel understood.
He also refused to repeat Walter's choice.
He turned over everything properly.
Meanwhile, Emily discovered Richard had received three payments from Crewe Security.
Richard admitted he had taken money before.
Not to target Walter.
To report whenever certain elderly veterans entered the restaurant during holiday events.
Crewe had been monitoring survivors.
Richard had never asked why.
He needed money.
Again, an ordinary bad choice.
Federal agents searched Crewe Security.
Alan Crewe was gone.
His office had been emptied.
One item remained.
A wall map.
Pins marked the homes of Night Glass survivors.
Most pins were black.
Walter's was red.
Margaret's was red.
Raymond's was red.
One more red pin sat in Indiana.
Michael's house.
Daniel called his father.
May you like
No answer.
