Chapter 5 - Vale Had Come To Judge Mason, Not Me
The next morning Captain Brooks called me into a conference room.
Vale was already there.
So was Lieutenant Colonel Harper, the officer overseeing the instructor-certification review.
Harper looked at Vale.
“Tell her.”
Vale did.
“I’m the senior enlisted member of the external assessment team.”
I stared.
“For this course.”
“Yes.”
“And Mason is being assessed.”
“Yes.”
“Were you here because of complaints about him?”
Harper answered.
“Not specific complaints. Instructor certification, command climate, training consistency.”
I looked at Vale.
“You were going to evaluate him.”
“Yes.”
“Without telling me you were here.”
“You weren't the subject.”
“Until I put him into a table.”
Harper’s mouth twitched.
Not a smile.
Almost.
Vale continued.
“I had not seen Mason in seven years.”
“Did you know he was lead course sergeant?”
“Yes.”
“And did that bother you?”
“Yes.”
Harper looked at him.
“This is why he's recused from everything involving Reed and you.”
Good.
I looked at Harper.
“Then why is he here?”
“Because you deserve to know the conflict before you hear it from a hallway.”
That was almost considerate.
Harper slid a folder toward me.
Not old history.
Current statements.
Four trainees had submitted short accounts after the canteen incident.
Not complaints.
Statements.
Three mentioned Mason's pattern of public humiliation.
One said:
SERGEANT REED OFTEN MAKES ONE PERSON THE JOKE OF THE DAY.
Another:
PEOPLE LAUGH BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, HE MAY PICK YOU NEXT.
I read that twice.
Mason had always liked controlling a room.
The room had been cooperating.
Harper said:
“None of this excuses you striking him first.”
“I know.”
“I'm aware you know. I'm saying it because the review has to hold both facts.”
“Okay.”
“Your certification is paused.”
“I know.”
“We may be able to move you to the next block.”
“When?”
“Six weeks.”
My assignment would not wait six weeks.
“What happens to my orders?”
“Not my authority.”
Of course.
I closed the folder.
Vale said:
“Rachel—”
“No.”
He stopped.
I looked at Harper.
“Did he try to advocate for me?”
Harper answered after half a second.
“Yes.”
Vale looked annoyed.
Good.
“What did you say?”
Harper said:
“That his opinion was irrelevant.”
I almost smiled.
Vale did not.
After the meeting he caught me outside.
“I wasn't trying to protect you.”
“Then what were you doing?”
“Explaining context.”
“To the officer deciding whether I stay in the course.”
“Yes.”
“That is protecting me.”
Vale’s jaw tightened.
“You have context.”
“So does Mason.”
“Not the same.”
“See?”
“What?”
I stepped closer.
“You still want me to be proof.”
His expression changed.
“That’s not fair.”
“Isn't it?”
“No.”
“You saw Mason act exactly like you said he used to act.”
“Yes.”
“You see me standing here after eleven years.”
“Yes.”
“And part of you loves what that proves.”
Vale looked away.
I knew.
I hated that I knew him well enough after all this time.
“You were right about Mason,” I said.
He turned back.
“That doesn't make you right about everything around him.”
Vale said nothing.
I continued.
“If my statement helps the review, fine. But it isn't your victory.”
His face tightened.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“I'm trying.”
That answer sounded real enough that I stopped.
Then a voice came from behind us.
“You two always did this?”
Mason.
He was with an escort from the administrative section.
Vale's expression closed.
Mason looked at him.
“Make everybody else stand around while you explain what their life means?”
“Mason,” the escort warned.
Mason ignored him.
He looked at me.
“Ask him why the old board happened in the first place.”
I frowned.
“I know why.”
“No.”
Mason looked at Vale.
“You told her about Captain Ellis?”
Vale went still.
That was new.
“Who is Captain Ellis?”
Vale looked at Mason.
“Don't.”
Mason smiled without humor.
“Now he wants boundaries.”
The escort grabbed Mason's elbow.
“Move.”
Mason let himself be taken away.
But he had already done what he wanted.
I looked at Vale.
“Who is Ellis?”
Vale said:
“The officer I hit.”
My stomach tightened.
“You told me nobody was hurt.”
“No trainee was.”
I stared.
Vale continued.
May you like
“The board wasn't only about private coaching.”
Of course it wasn't.
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