Chapter 3 - Walter Briggs
Walter came to my house the next morning with his wife.
He looked ashamed.
“I should’ve stopped it.”
“You didn’t know Logan would punch Noah.”
“I knew something was happening.”
“Yes.”
That was enough.
He handed me his phone.
Messages.
GRANT:
Saturday afternoon could get uncomfortable.
WALTER:
Marriage thing?
GRANT:
Family thing.
WALTER:
Need help?
GRANT:
Just document. Claire has been escalating.
Walter:
Escalating how?
Grant:
You know her background. She goes cold before she gets physical.
False.
I had never been physical with Grant.
Then:
WALTER:
Call police if you’re worried.
GRANT:
No. This needs witnesses who know us.
Walter:
Why?
Grant:
Court doesn’t understand what living with a combat officer is like.
I closed my eyes.
“Did he tell you I had PTSD?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t have a PTSD diagnosis.”
“I know now.”
“He knew then.”
Walter stared at floor.
Then:
“He said you were medically forced out.”
“I left active duty voluntarily.”
Walter nodded.
“That’s why recognizing you bothered me.”
“Because?”
“I knew enough people from that period.”
He had been a senior logistics NCO supporting another unit during an exercise where I worked operations.
We crossed paths.
Barely.
Enough.
Then:
“Grant told neighbors you exaggerated being a Ranger.”
I sighed.
“I served in the Regiment. I went to Ranger School too. Those are different facts. None of it makes me bulletproof.”
“He made it sound like you were lying about all of it.”
Of course.
Then Walter gave me his full video.
It started four minutes before Logan threw the gloves.
Grant moved neighbors into positions.
Not dramatically.
“Can you get this angle?”
“Stay near Noah.”
“If Claire starts, don’t step between them.”
Starts what?
Unclear.
Then Logan came from Grant’s driveway.
He and Grant spoke.
Audio faint.
Digital enhancement later would help, but no magic.
We could hear:
Grant:
Remember what we talked about.
Logan:
I know.
Then Noah walked over.
His phone.
Logan knocked it away.
Punch.
Grant’s smile.
The video did not prove Grant ordered the punch.
May you like
It proved preparation for something.
Enough to keep digging.
