been a change in plans. I am going to accompany this man on a fact-finding mission. I’ll be back in six hours.”
The man from Interior didn’t like it. “Sir, this is most unusual, shouldn’t we…”
Owens interrupted the protest, “I’m sure our hosts will provide accommodations, Mr. Undersecretary. I’m sure they’ll make you quite comfortable.”
The general’s aide joined in, “Sir, may I suggest that I accompany you on this mission?”
Owens looked at Nick, the big man offering, “This is an extremely sensitive matter, General.”
The staff officer caught the meaning; Nick didn’t trust the other members of the delegation. Turning to the others Owens responded, “Gentlemen, please excuse me for just a moment. I would like to have a word in private.”
When Nick and he were out of earshot, the general said, “Major Berkley has been with me since I joined the 7 th Mountain four years ago. I would trust… I have trusted the man with my life.”
“If he sees what I’m going to show you, both of your lives could be in danger. I’ll leave that up to you, General. I don’t care if he comes along.”
A few minutes later, Nick and Moses left Alpha, the two Army officers riding in the back seat of Nick’s crew cab truck. Nick informed Owens of their destination as soon as they left Alpha.
“Why are you taking us there? The Army has already conducted a detailed investigation.”
“We found new evidence,” Nick replied. “Undeniable facts that lead any reasonable man to a very, very dangerous place. I want you to see what we uncovered with your own eyes, and I don’t want anyone else knowing about it.”
Owens was skeptical. “This is all so cloak and dagger for a Green Beret, Sergeant. I’m not sure I follow.”
“You will, sir. You will.”
The four men drove the rest of the trip in near silence. After arriving at the canyon, Nick led the expedition to the base of the south face. Nodding to Moses and then holding up one of the photographs, he said, “We are going to send this man over to the position shown on this image. You can see exactly where the murderer was standing by this tree trunk and oddly shaped rock. Do you agree with his placement, sir?”
Owens glanced back and forth, checking the noted terrain against the photo. “I do,” he concurred.
As Moses moved to the indicated position, Nick and the two officers began climbing to the rim. Again, Nick held up the surveillance photo. “As you can see, General, that tree is blocking the view of our man. If we assume the drone was flying overhead, there’s no way this picture could have been taken from the air.”
The general studied the angle, but wasn’t convinced. “I’ve seen aerial images that were distorted before. I concede that it does look strange, but that’s not proof of anything.”
“I’m not done, sir. Please follow me.”
The three men then climbed down to the ledge where Nick led his guests to the imprint of the tri-pod. Again, Owens was skeptical. “No offense, Sergeant, but you could have made those indentations yourself.”
Nick smiled, “Yes, sir, I could have. But I couldn’t have made this picture myself. Look at Moses.”
Owens sighed, examining the picture and comparing it to the real life scene below. He studied every detail for several moments and then turned abruptly to his aide. “Major, do you see this?”
The younger officer stepped forward and conducted his own comparison. “Sir, this photograph was taken from this position. I can’t speculate what that means, but it is clear to me that this is the exact spot.”
“Thank you, Major. Please, give us a moment.”
“I get it, Sergeant. I’m not stupid. But this doesn’t prove anything. That’s still your man shooting innocents. Why someone was up here with a camera, I have no idea. But that doesn’t change the fact that this Bishop character mowed down my people.”
“It wasn’t Bishop, sir. I believe I can prove that, but
The man from Interior didn’t like it. “Sir, this is most unusual, shouldn’t we…”
Owens interrupted the protest, “I’m sure our hosts will provide accommodations, Mr. Undersecretary. I’m sure they’ll make you quite comfortable.”
The general’s aide joined in, “Sir, may I suggest that I accompany you on this mission?”
Owens looked at Nick, the big man offering, “This is an extremely sensitive matter, General.”
The staff officer caught the meaning; Nick didn’t trust the other members of the delegation. Turning to the others Owens responded, “Gentlemen, please excuse me for just a moment. I would like to have a word in private.”
When Nick and he were out of earshot, the general said, “Major Berkley has been with me since I joined the 7 th Mountain four years ago. I would trust… I have trusted the man with my life.”
“If he sees what I’m going to show you, both of your lives could be in danger. I’ll leave that up to you, General. I don’t care if he comes along.”
A few minutes later, Nick and Moses left Alpha, the two Army officers riding in the back seat of Nick’s crew cab truck. Nick informed Owens of their destination as soon as they left Alpha.
“Why are you taking us there? The Army has already conducted a detailed investigation.”
“We found new evidence,” Nick replied. “Undeniable facts that lead any reasonable man to a very, very dangerous place. I want you to see what we uncovered with your own eyes, and I don’t want anyone else knowing about it.”
Owens was skeptical. “This is all so cloak and dagger for a Green Beret, Sergeant. I’m not sure I follow.”
“You will, sir. You will.”
The four men drove the rest of the trip in near silence. After arriving at the canyon, Nick led the expedition to the base of the south face. Nodding to Moses and then holding up one of the photographs, he said, “We are going to send this man over to the position shown on this image. You can see exactly where the murderer was standing by this tree trunk and oddly shaped rock. Do you agree with his placement, sir?”
Owens glanced back and forth, checking the noted terrain against the photo. “I do,” he concurred.
As Moses moved to the indicated position, Nick and the two officers began climbing to the rim. Again, Nick held up the surveillance photo. “As you can see, General, that tree is blocking the view of our man. If we assume the drone was flying overhead, there’s no way this picture could have been taken from the air.”
The general studied the angle, but wasn’t convinced. “I’ve seen aerial images that were distorted before. I concede that it does look strange, but that’s not proof of anything.”
“I’m not done, sir. Please follow me.”
The three men then climbed down to the ledge where Nick led his guests to the imprint of the tri-pod. Again, Owens was skeptical. “No offense, Sergeant, but you could have made those indentations yourself.”
Nick smiled, “Yes, sir, I could have. But I couldn’t have made this picture myself. Look at Moses.”
Owens sighed, examining the picture and comparing it to the real life scene below. He studied every detail for several moments and then turned abruptly to his aide. “Major, do you see this?”
The younger officer stepped forward and conducted his own comparison. “Sir, this photograph was taken from this position. I can’t speculate what that means, but it is clear to me that this is the exact spot.”
“Thank you, Major. Please, give us a moment.”
“I get it, Sergeant. I’m not stupid. But this doesn’t prove anything. That’s still your man shooting innocents. Why someone was up here with a camera, I have no idea. But that doesn’t change the fact that this Bishop character mowed down my people.”
“It wasn’t Bishop, sir. I believe I can prove that, but
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