Chapter 7 - The Truth Behind Her Father's Last Mission
The investigation continued for months.
Mercer's arrest reopened Ethan Brooks' case.
Records once sealed became available to investigators.
Witnesses came forward.
The official story changed.
Ethan hadn't died in an accident.
He had died protecting evidence and attempting to save his daughter.
Maya received his personal effects.
A watch.
Dog tags.
Several photographs.
And one recorded message recovered from the encrypted drive.
She listened alone first.
Then again with her mother.
Ethan appeared on the screen.
Tired.
Smiling.
“If Maya ever sees this, then something went wrong.”
Maya covered her mouth.
Her father's voice continued.
“Bug, if you're watching this, I need you to understand something. What happened to me isn't your burden.”
Maya cried silently.
“You don't owe me revenge. You don't owe anybody proof that you're strong. Live. That's enough.”
Laura reached for Maya's hand.
Maya didn't pull away.
The message ended.
For years Maya had believed strength meant silence.
Enduring.
Hiding pain.
Never asking for help.
Her father had left her a different definition.
Live.
That was enough.
Later that evening, Vance visited.
Maya handed him Ethan's letter.
“You should keep it.”
Vance shook his head.
“He wrote it to me, but he left it for you to find.”
Maya studied him.
“You blamed yourself.”
“For eleven years.”
“He wouldn't want that.”
Vance smiled sadly.
“No. He wouldn't.”
Maya looked at her arm.
Neither sleeve was rolled down.
“Neither would I.”
For Vance, those four words released something he had carried for more than a decade.
But Maya's journey wasn't finished.
May you like
Because the following Monday she had to return to the same training pit where the entire platoon had seen the part of herself she'd spent half her life hiding.
And Miller would be there.
