Chapter 3 - The Ghost
The bailiff immediately reached for his sidearm.
The judge slammed his gavel down with extreme force.
"Order in the court, sit down immediately or you will be removed."
Major Ethan Walker ignored the judge and slowly walked down the center aisle.
He moved with a heavy limp, favoring his right leg.
I had not seen him since the night he pulled my bleeding body from the burning helicopter.
The military had told me he died in a classified hospital two weeks after our extraction.
Ryan looked genuinely panicked for the first time since the trial began.
Evelyn stood up from her seat, her face completely pale.
"Who is this man?" the prosecutor demanded.
Ethan stopped right behind the wooden railing that separated the gallery from the defense tables.
"I am Major Ethan Walker, commanding officer of Echo Team."
He pointed a scarred finger directly at Captain Miller in the witness box.
"And that man is an imposter who has never seen a day of real combat in his miserable life."
Miller jumped up from his chair, his face turning bright red.
"He is crazy, Your Honor, I do not know this man."
The judge glared at Ethan.
"Sir, you are not on the witness list, and you are interrupting a federal proceeding."
Mister Hayes quickly stepped forward.
"Your Honor, the defense officially calls Major Walker to the stand as a surprise rebuttal witness."
The prosecutor slammed his hand down on his desk.
"We strongly object to this ambush tactic."
"This man could be anyone, just another actor hired by the defendant."
Ethan reached inside his heavy canvas jacket.
Three armed court officers immediately drew their weapons and aimed them at his chest.
"Drop the jacket and keep your hands where we can see them," the lead officer shouted.
Ethan slowly pulled out a solid silver military identification tag and a sealed black envelope.
"I have my official military identification and a sworn affidavit from a federal judge."
He placed the envelope gently on the wooden railing.
"This envelope contains the true identity of the woman sitting at that table."
My heart raced as the bailiff carefully retrieved the envelope and handed it to the judge.
The judge tore open the seal and began to read the document.
His expression shifted from extreme annoyance to profound shock.
He looked up at Ethan, then down at me, and finally over at Ryan.
"Court is going into a mandatory closed-door recess for exactly one hour," the judge announced.
He struck his gavel and quickly retreated into his private chambers.
As the courtroom emptied, Ryan casually walked over to my table.
May you like
He leaned in close so that only I could hear him.
"He might have the truth, Claire, but I have his daughter."
