Feb 4, 2021 21:15:00 GMT -5
WORDS: | TAGS:OPEN |
Ruby showed her ID at the gate, the guard scanning it before handing her a clipboard to sign. She placed her signature on the line, slid her ID back into her wallet, and pulled into the base as the guard gave a signal for the gate to be raised. She didn't think about the last time she was here. She didn't think about the moments and events that led up to the single most terrifying event of her life. No, she had a job to do. She had called Will, leaving a message letting him know she'd be on base when she had gotten his voicemail. It was the first time that she'd be setting foot in the place since the previous events and she had done everything in her power to avoid it.
She took a case that involved a young man's death. A young man who had been signed and pledged into service. He was a week from basic when his body turned up in a river with an autopsy revealing that he hadn't drowned. His friends weren't talking, but a 51mm tracer bullet was found in his pocket. A bullet that only the military uses. His mother had begged for her to help and was capable and willing to pay for whatever was necessary to find answers. She had called his recruiting officer for a week trying to schedule a time that he could come down to her office, but he had been thus far busy. So she made an appointment with him at the base.
Ruby parked in visitor parking, tucking her coat in tightly around her. Snow was covering the ground and as she began walking towards the base, more began falling. In and out, she told herself. Ruby passed her ID over not just once, but twice more before making it indoors. She pushed all personal thoughts away as one of the guards asked that she follow him to the Officer.
The guard went down one hallway, then another, and turned once more before he led her to a small room and asked her to wait. She gave a brisk nod and remained standing. The room looked like a typical waiting room, there were a few seats and a small table, some coffee in the corner. She glanced at her watch when nine minutes ticked by. Then fifteen.
Ruby opened the door, looking out at the apparently empty hallway. She sighed and stepped outside the room with her arms crossed in irritation. She should have known that a career soldier wouldn't value her time as important as his, but she had hoped this would go quickly. She had hoped to be in and out of this place in under 30 minutes. Yet here she was, having to find her way back to the main entrance so she could demand to speak to the man who had scheduled her visit himself.
Ruby had turned down one hallway and then another when the lights in the hallway turned red before going back to white with intermittent flashing. Ruby immediately stood still in place as a voice calmly came over the speaker system calling a code. She put her hand on the wall to steady herself as she focused on breathing in and out. There weren't any sirens. She knew first-hand that that was a good sign. She grabbed her purse, moving to pull out her cell when the sound of boots pounding her way became louder.
She looked up as a younger soldier entered the hallway. She halfway thought he was going to continue past her but instead he made his way to her, his voice stern, "Excuse me ma'am but I need you to identify yourself." His hand hovered over his weapon and Ruby eyed it a moment before squaring her shoulders back, "My name is Ruby Torres. I have an appointment with Sergeant Davis." The soldier's face creased in confusion for a brief moment before he replied, "I need you to come with me ma'am."
Ruby shook her head, "No. I'm sorry but I have another appointment I need to get to. Can you escort me to the front ent-" The soldier shook his head as he interrupted her, "Come with me now ma'am." Ruby's face was now the one showing confusion, her voice wavering slightly, "Excuse me?" The officer grabbed her arm and she pulled it back, "I'm a civilian, you can't just-" the man interrupted her again, "Sergeant Davis isn't on base. Now I'll say it one more time...hands behind your head...walk with me." She felt her heart quicken, the sound of her blood beginning to rush in her ears. "Look. There's been a mistake. There's a perfectly reasonable-" The soldier's hands moved quickly, un-holstering his pistol and leveling it at her chest, "hands behind your head. Now." Ruby held her shaking hands up as the man moved forward to grab her arm.
She took a case that involved a young man's death. A young man who had been signed and pledged into service. He was a week from basic when his body turned up in a river with an autopsy revealing that he hadn't drowned. His friends weren't talking, but a 51mm tracer bullet was found in his pocket. A bullet that only the military uses. His mother had begged for her to help and was capable and willing to pay for whatever was necessary to find answers. She had called his recruiting officer for a week trying to schedule a time that he could come down to her office, but he had been thus far busy. So she made an appointment with him at the base.
Ruby parked in visitor parking, tucking her coat in tightly around her. Snow was covering the ground and as she began walking towards the base, more began falling. In and out, she told herself. Ruby passed her ID over not just once, but twice more before making it indoors. She pushed all personal thoughts away as one of the guards asked that she follow him to the Officer.
The guard went down one hallway, then another, and turned once more before he led her to a small room and asked her to wait. She gave a brisk nod and remained standing. The room looked like a typical waiting room, there were a few seats and a small table, some coffee in the corner. She glanced at her watch when nine minutes ticked by. Then fifteen.
Ruby opened the door, looking out at the apparently empty hallway. She sighed and stepped outside the room with her arms crossed in irritation. She should have known that a career soldier wouldn't value her time as important as his, but she had hoped this would go quickly. She had hoped to be in and out of this place in under 30 minutes. Yet here she was, having to find her way back to the main entrance so she could demand to speak to the man who had scheduled her visit himself.
Ruby had turned down one hallway and then another when the lights in the hallway turned red before going back to white with intermittent flashing. Ruby immediately stood still in place as a voice calmly came over the speaker system calling a code. She put her hand on the wall to steady herself as she focused on breathing in and out. There weren't any sirens. She knew first-hand that that was a good sign. She grabbed her purse, moving to pull out her cell when the sound of boots pounding her way became louder.
She looked up as a younger soldier entered the hallway. She halfway thought he was going to continue past her but instead he made his way to her, his voice stern, "Excuse me ma'am but I need you to identify yourself." His hand hovered over his weapon and Ruby eyed it a moment before squaring her shoulders back, "My name is Ruby Torres. I have an appointment with Sergeant Davis." The soldier's face creased in confusion for a brief moment before he replied, "I need you to come with me ma'am."
Ruby shook her head, "No. I'm sorry but I have another appointment I need to get to. Can you escort me to the front ent-" The soldier shook his head as he interrupted her, "Come with me now ma'am." Ruby's face was now the one showing confusion, her voice wavering slightly, "Excuse me?" The officer grabbed her arm and she pulled it back, "I'm a civilian, you can't just-" the man interrupted her again, "Sergeant Davis isn't on base. Now I'll say it one more time...hands behind your head...walk with me." She felt her heart quicken, the sound of her blood beginning to rush in her ears. "Look. There's been a mistake. There's a perfectly reasonable-" The soldier's hands moved quickly, un-holstering his pistol and leveling it at her chest, "hands behind your head. Now." Ruby held her shaking hands up as the man moved forward to grab her arm.
NOTES ; I'm thinking just a fairly standard security alarm was called for a potential threat. Base locked down or something for a little while, etc. etc.
＃ENY ADOXOGRAPHY
