Chapter 22 Sabine #2
"You're not gonna die." I reach across the space between us and take her hand. "Not if you help us. We have evidence proving what Bryan did in Afghanistan and what he's been doing to women in our unit for years. And Ham is in too… We spoke to him last week."
There's a long, awkward silence as she drops her head, and I watch tears drip from her face to the tops of her knees where they dampen the fabric of her fatigues.
"He did it to you too…" Hannah says it as a statement rather than a question, and I nod confirmation.
"Look, that's not important, okay?" I squeeze her hand again. "What’s important is that we can stop him from doing it to anyone else."
Hannah pulls her hand back and covers her mouth, and the sound that escapes is part sob and part moan. "I thought I was the only one, that maybe I did something to make him target me, specifically. But he was doing this to everyone."
"None of the women knew Bryan was doing it to others.
" I lean forward, needing her to understand this crucial point.
"He isolated each of us, made us feel alone and like nobody would believe us if we spoke up.
That was part of his strategy, keeping the victims separated so we couldn't compare stories or realize we were part of a pattern. "
Hannah wipes tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. "He would corner me sometimes when nobody else was around and remind me that he could make my life miserable if I ever opened my mouth. So I stayed silent and tried to survive until I could get away from him."
"But you're not away from him." The warm baritone of Jace's voice comforts me.
"He contacted you and told you he was coming for you.
He's systematically eliminating everyone who knows the truth, and you're on his list. The only way you survive this is by helping us take him down before he gets to you. "
All of this is so overwhelming to me now.
After what Brooks gave up and how he'd never help me, I'm beginning to think Bryan's shame over Afghanistan isn't even the reason for this list. I wonder if he's sent other hitmen to take out other women he's worked with while stationed in other various places.
What if this hit list is just a means to cover up the murders of the women who reported to him?
Hannah looks between us, searching our faces for deception or ulterior motives. "What do you need from me? What am I supposed to do that'll keep me safe from that fucker?"
"Testify." My gut is churning, but I maintain a steady tone. "I'm going to go to Defense and make this right, and I need you to come have my back. Along with Ham. We'll take them down together, and when we do, Bryan will be court martialed and never hurt another woman again."
"If I testify, my life's over." She sounds exhausted as she says, "The military will drag my name through the mud during court-martial proceedings. I can't, Sabine. I've worked so hard in therapy to—"
"If you don't testify, you'll be dead." The brutal honesty needs to be spoken clearly.
"Bryan's not gonna stop until everyone who knows what he did is gone.
He's already had seven people killed, Hannah.
They thought their silence would protect them too and it didn't. The only way you survive this is by helping us. "
"What about protection?" Hannah looks at Jace. "You said you'd keep me safe. What does that mean? Where would I go and how long would I have to hide?"
"I'll put you somewhere secure where Bryan can't find you." Now Jace sounds confident. He's giving her the answers she needs, and it makes me feel at peace.
Hannah's quiet for a long moment, and I can see her weighing the options. Stay silent and hope Bryan doesn't get to her before we can stop him, or testify and accept the public scrutiny and personal cost that comes with speaking out.
Neither choice is good, but one gives her a chance at survival and justice while the other guarantees she becomes another casualty.
"There are more women." Hannah's voice is stronger now.
"I don't know who they all are, but I heard rumors during my time in service.
Whispers about women who reported assaults and had their cases dismissed or swept under the rug.
If Bryan's been doing this for as long as you say, there have to be others who are still alive and might be willing to testify. "
"We'll find them." I stand and offer her my hand. "But first we need to get you somewhere safe. Jace will handle the arrangements, and I'll stay in contact with you until we know Bryan can't touch you. From this point forward, you're not alone in this fight."
Hannah takes my hand and lets me pull her to her feet. She still looks frightened, but beneath the fear, I see determination starting to take root. "Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for fighting when it would have been easier to stay quiet and hope he forgot about us."
"You're brave too." I squeeze her hand before releasing it. "It takes courage to testify after everything you've been through. You're doing something incredibly difficult, and I'm proud of you for making this choice."
We leave the bookstore together and I feel hope growing now.
With Hannah and Everette on our side now, I know we will have no problem taking Bryan down.
The problem is, Jace isn't going to like what I have to do.
He swore to not let them take me to prison, but the only way out is through, and turning myself in is the right thing to do now.
I just have to hope my former colleagues don't back out or I'm up shit creek without a paddle.