Chapter 10: The Soldier Framed by the Truth
The message remained on Nia Carter’s phone.
*Now they’ll think you’re the enemy.*
She read it three times.
Not because she didn’t understand the words.
Because she understood them too well.
Someone wanted her afraid.
Someone wanted her isolated.
Someone wanted everyone around her to question her.
And the worst part was…
It was working.
The evidence was impossible to ignore.
Her credentials had opened Dr. Whitaker’s office.
Her access code had been used.
Her identity was attached to the action.
Even though she knew she had never been there.
Marcus Reed stared at the report in his hand.
“Nia.””
She looked at him.
His voice was careful.
Too careful.
That bothered her.
“Say it.””
Marcus frowned.
“Say what?””
“Say what everyone is thinking.””
The hallway became silent.
Nia looked at the soldiers nearby.
Some avoided her eyes.
Some looked confused.
Some looked afraid.
“Say that I did it.””
Marcus immediately shook his head.
“I don’t believe that.””
“But you’re considering it.””
“No.””
The answer came quickly.
But Nia noticed something.
A small hesitation.
A fraction of a second.
Enough.
She stepped back.
“That’s all they wanted.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What?””
“To make everyone doubt me.””
The soldier who brought the report shifted uncomfortably.
“Sergeant Carter, nobody is accusing you.””
Nia looked at the report.
“Not yet.””
Nobody responded.
Because she was right.
The investigation had changed.
Before, she was the victim.
Now, she was evidence.
Marcus folded the report.
“We need to move you somewhere secure.””
Nia stared.
“Secure?””
“Yes.””
“Or contained?””
His expression changed.
“Nia.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
She looked around.
“Every time someone says they’re protecting me, I end up finding out they were hiding something.””
Marcus had no answer.
Because he knew she was speaking from experience.
A security officer approached.
“Captain Reed.””
Marcus turned.
“Yes?””
“We received orders from command.””
Nia immediately noticed the officer’s tone.
Something was wrong.
Marcus asked:
“What orders?””
The officer looked at Nia.
Then away.
“Sergeant Carter is to surrender her access badge.””
The hallway went silent.
Nia laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
“So that’s it?””
Marcus looked angry.
“This is temporary.””
“Temporary?””
She pointed at the report.
“Someone stole my identity and used it to destroy evidence.””
She looked at the officer.
“And I’m the one losing access?””
The officer said nothing.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Who authorized this?””
The officer hesitated.
Then answered:
“General Avery.””
Nia froze.
Again.
That name.
The same name connected to her medical records.
The same name connected to the missing investigation.
Marcus noticed.
“He’s moving faster than we expected.””
Nia looked at him.
“You think he’s behind this?””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“I think he knows more than he admitted.””
Before they could continue, Cole appeared at the end of the hallway.
Two security personnel followed him.
Nia looked at him.
“What happened?””
Cole stopped.
His face was serious.
“They found something.””
Marcus turned.
“What?””
Cole looked at Nia.
“They searched my quarters.””
Nia’s expression changed.
“And?””
“They found the payment records.””
Marcus frowned.
“We already knew about those.””
Cole shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at Nia.
“They found something else.””
He reached into his pocket and handed Marcus a small envelope.
Marcus opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Nia looked closer.
Her heart stopped.
It was her.
Not the accident.
Not recovery.
A recent picture.
Taken inside the facility.
Watching her.
Again.
Cole spoke quietly.
“They’ve been monitoring you for months.””
Nia looked at him.
“Why?””
Cole shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
Then his eyes moved toward Marcus.
“But I know one thing.””
“What?””
Cole swallowed.
“The person who ordered me to scare you wanted something you had.””
Nia frowned.
“I don’t have anything.””
Cole looked at her.
“You do.””
“What?””
He hesitated.
Then said:
“Your memory.””
Nia felt a chill.
“My memory?””
Cole nodded.
“Dr. Whitaker was never worried about what you knew.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Then what?””
Cole answered:
“He was worried about what you would remember.””
Nia stood frozen.
Because suddenly the missing pieces started moving.
The questions.
The altered records.
The warnings.
The threats.
Someone wasn’t trying to hide what happened.
They were trying to hide what she saw.
A loud alarm suddenly sounded.
Everyone turned.
Red lights flashed across the hallway.
The security officer touched his radio.
“Unauthorized access in medical archives.””
Marcus looked toward the medical wing.
“Again?””
The officer listened.
Then his face changed.
“Captain…”
“What?””
He lowered the radio.
“The system says Sergeant Carter’s credentials were used.””
Nia stared.
“No.””
Marcus looked at her.
“I believe you.””
But this time, belief wasn’t enough.
Because a second later, every screen in the hallway turned on.
A security recording played.
A person walking through the medical archives.
Wearing Nia’s uniform.
Using Nia’s badge.
The video quality was clear.
Too clear.
Everyone watched.
The person turned toward the camera.
And the face appeared.
May you like
Nia Carter.
The hallway went silent.
