The Man Behind the Uniform
Chapter 05 - The Man Behind the Uniform
Grant Hale had been celebrated throughout Bellhaven County.
Schools invited him to speak.
Businesses displayed his photograph.
The courthouse flag flew at half-staff when he died.
Ethan had delivered the eulogy.
He called Grant the most honest man he knew.
Now every sentence from that speech felt like evidence against him.
Ethan contacted the state investigator assigned to Mason’s exoneration.
Detective Ava Brooks met them at the house.
She examined the metal box and mail sacks.
“This is enough to reopen the fire investigation,” she said.
Mason looked toward Grant’s photograph.
“Grant is dead.”
“He may not have acted alone.”
Ava explained that Grant’s younger brother, Caleb Hale, worked in the evidence room at the time of the fire.
Caleb was now county sheriff.
Ethan’s uncle.
The man who pinned Ethan’s first military medal to his uniform.
Laura became pale.
“Caleb knew?”
Mason answered.
“He testified that I threatened Luke the week before the fire.”
“Did you?”
“We argued. Brothers argue. I never threatened to kill him.”
Ava found Caleb’s signature on the evidence receipt.
He was the clerk who released the gas can to Grant.
The same gas can used to frame Mason.
Ethan called Caleb.
His uncle answered warmly.
“Soldier, when did you get home?”
Ethan stared at the documents.
“Yesterday.”
“Your mother didn’t tell me.”
“She didn’t know until I walked in.”
Caleb laughed.
“Always liked making an entrance.”
Ethan did not.
“I found Grant’s box.”
Silence.
Then Caleb’s voice changed.
“What box?”
“The one under the motorcycle lift.”
Caleb breathed slowly.
“Ethan, whatever Laura told you, she was confused even back then.”
Mason stepped closer, listening.
Ethan’s grip tightened around the phone.
“Why did you sign a gas can out of evidence six hours before Luke Cross died?”
May you like
Caleb did not answer.
Then the line went dead.
