AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She would be testifying before the U.S. Congress tomorrow on everything that she knew about Barton, Ajmal, and their scheme. Charlie had been given a lawyer more to help her navigate the process, which was admittedly overwhelming, rather than because she needed legal advice. It was simply to help her prepare and understand all that the hearing would entail.
Wheeler, her lawyer, had been helpful. She was glad that she had him, she decided. She would have been more impressed if he had gotten her out of testifying at all, but she knew that was an unrealistic expectation.
He wasn’t a bad lawyer. He was just uncomfortably aligned with the most trying time of her life, which meant that she had a hard time finding things to like about him. It wasn’t his fault, not really.
Every part of what she was being asked to do tomorrow sounded horrible. Just utterly unbearable. And Mr. Wheeler had the misfortune of being the one who had to keep giving her the bad news.
There was only one tiny little thing she looked forward to tomorrow. That is, if she really stopped to think about it … she didn’t, as a general rule.
She had a feeling Hammer would be there. She hadn’t seen him since the helicopter landed, and they had been swept in opposite directions by serious, professional-looking government officials who had no time for long-winded goodbyes.
That alone was the one thing that made going to court feel a little bit worth it. That, and seeing Ajmal end up behind bars as he deserved.
* * *
“Because of thealarms raised regarding Ajmal’s handling of the site, a surprise investigation of the camp was launched.” The leading attorney looked toward the man just called forward to testify. “General Matthews was the head of that investigation,” she explained. “Can you tell us what you found?”
“We found significant evidence that paperwork and records had been altered or were otherwise misleading. For example, items documented on the initial dig seemed to have disappeared before they could be recorded. Items that were recorded were given altered descriptions in an attempt to cover up just how much had gone missing. Things were marked as damaged without being properly documented. Just a general mess.”
“In your opinion, could such a situation have been the result of poor training? Inexperienced staff? Or only as a deliberate attempt to mislead?” she followed.
“Oh, it was clearly deliberate.” The general didn’t hesitate with his answer. “Someone there wanted to make sure no one would know what happened on that site. It’s only because we got there earlier than expected that we found as much as we did. And it didn’t stop at artifacts.”
“What else did you find?” the lawyer encouraged him to continue.
“People were missing. Actual staff members could not be accounted for. This, obviously, was a matter of immediate concern. Four bodies were eventually located and identified.”
Charlie paled, feeling her head swim at this surprising revelation. She knew, of course, what Ajmal was capable of. He had tried to kill her, after all.
Still, knowing that it hadn’t stopped at her was shocking. Not only were there more, but he had been successful in those attempts. She had never stopped to think about it before, somehow assuming she was an isolated incident.
It only strengthened her resolve to make a compelling case when she was finally called to testify. She had to speak for all those who no longer could. Justice had to be served.
She could feel her shoulders tense, rocking nervously in her seat as she waited. Name after name was called, various experts on this and that. She could hardly quiet her busy mind to hear what they had to say.
On the other side of the room, Hammer wore a blank expression. She couldn’t help but stare, trying to figure out what he might be thinking or feeling. As always, he was an enigma.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, it registered that she had heard her name. She nervously stood, making her way to the front. Charlie smoothed out her skirt, feeling her heart leap into her throat.
She sat as directed, briefly closing her eyes to steady herself. Swallowing, she tried to steel her nerves.You can do this, Charlie. Just answer with the truth.
When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Hammer. He was watching her. Her heart skipped a beat, trying not to read too much into it. She was the center of attention right now. Of course, he was looking. Everyone was looking.
But there was something in his gaze that made her feel strong. She smiled weakly and saw his eyes sparkle back at her.
“Ms. Jackson, can you tell us what your connection with Mr. Ajmal is?”
Charlie shook herself to attention, focusing on the matter at hand. Before she knew it, everything had gone by in a hazy blur. She couldn’t even remember exactly what she said or how she said it, but she had told them everything.
She pulled no punches, listing every government official that had been tied to Ajmal. She gave a clear and unquestionable report on what she had heard between Ajmal and Barton, leaving no room for doubt among those listening.
And then she sat, and Ajmal himself was called up. She felt a shiver run down her spine at the sight of him, instantly recalling the horrible things he had done. She couldn’t help the disgusted sneer that spread across her face, unable to hide her loathing.
Charlie would never be sure if Ajmal had just given up in the face of so much overwhelming evidence against him. Or, perhaps, he thought that he would get off easy by cooperating.
But he surprised her by admitting everything. He didn’t try to lie his way out of it, something she had begun to think he almost couldn’t help but do.
He came clean, throwing every government official that he had been tied to under the bus with him. The real shock came when he admitted that he had lied about Hammer’s misdeeds, the lies that got Hammer sent to the Supermax prison in the first place.
