The heavy oak doors at the back of the courtroom suddenly burst open with a resounding CRASH.
Everyone jumped. The bailiff reached toward his belt. “Hey! Court is in session!”
A voice echoed across the high-ceilinged room. A voice accustomed to commanding thousands.
“I apologize for the interruption, Your Honor. But I have the evidence you require.”
I turned around, and the breath vanished from my lungs.
Major General Noah Harrison walked down the center aisle. He wasn’t dressed in civilian clothing. He wore his full Class A dress uniform. Army green, crisp and immaculate. Silver stars gleamed from his shoulders. Rows of colorful ribbons and medals covered his chest, a testament to a lifetime of service.
He had done it. He had defied a direct order. He had sacrificed his fourth star, his career, his entire life’s work, to walk into that courtroom for me.
Two men in sharp suits followed behind him, carrying a silver briefcase.
“Who dares interrupt this court?” Judge Harrison demanded, though a hint of awe colored his voice.
Noah stopped at the wooden gate, gave the bench a perfect salute, and stood at attention. “Major General Noah Harrison, United States Army. And I am here to testify.” CHAPTER 5: THE UNSEEN TRUTH
The courtroom erupted in whispers. Ryan looked as though he had just swallowed a lemon. Vance hurriedly whispered to his co-counsel.
“General Harrison,” the judge said, regaining his composure. “This is highly irregular. You are not on the witness list.”
“With respect, Your Honor, I am the subject of the petitioner’s primary exhibit,” Noah said, his voice carrying effortlessly. “Furthermore, my legal team has just executed a federal subpoena under the auspices of national security—given my clearance level and the aggressive nature of the paparazzi involved—to seize the raw, unedited footage of the flight in question from Sterling Media Group.”
He gestured toward the men in suits, who stepped forward and placed a flash drive on the clerk’s desk.
