Chapter 7 - The Choice
Whitaker looked at Hayes. “You told me my son died bravely, alone, fighting to the end.”
“He did—”
“You told me there was no one else.” Whitaker’s voice cracked. “You told me the area was secure. You told me the helicopter malfunctioned.” He took a breath. “She was there. She saw him. And you erased her.”
“I was protecting the integrity of the service!” Hayes’s voice rose. “If it came out a junior officer was sent in after the mission was deemed too dangerous — if it came out Elias chose to stay behind rather than let her die—”
“It would ruin the narrative,” Emily said. “The clean, tragic story. Instead of the messy, brave truth.”
May you like
Whitaker looked at her. “Did he say anything? Before he left you?”
Emily’s eyes filled. “He said… ‘Tell my father I didn’t run. Tell him I chose.’”
