'I object'
Everyone was perplexed because the Presidential award was the highest-ranking award in the country. People work to their death yet fail to earn it. When the award was knocking right at Jason's junior door, why would Jason turn it down?
Whereas, the Chief Justice wasn't surprised like others by hearing Jason. He knew Jason had a reason to attend the meeting. He glanced at Bernard who was a bit confused.
How could Bernard believe the chief of Team Ace, the secret service, would see an officer bear the injustice?
Well, the old man was right. Jason bothered to use his precious time to teach someone a lesson. His gaze landed on Bernard who looked dignified but he failed to hide his guilt from Jason.
The Chief Justice waved his hand at Jason to explain his reason and he anticipated the show as Jason wasn't doing anything illegal to reprimand him.
Jason's eyes returned to Bernard who faintly stiffened. He dared to say, "I wouldn't let an award insult my officer."
A hush fell over in the room as they turned to Bernard. Calling the Presidential Award an insult meant Jason was looking down on Bernard who will be presenting that award.
Secretary Ricardo Harris was stunned. As the person who attended the secret court with Bernard, he could understand Bernard had lost respect despite being unpunished.
However, as a secretary of a President, he quickly composed himself and warned Jason, "Chief Jason, mind your words."
Jason didn't spare a glance at the secretary. He looked at Bernard who was uneasy with the growing guilt. "President Collins, am I wrong?" He probed directly.
Jason knew on the secret court day that the Chief Justice was going to reward Anya Owen for what she deserved by making use of the new mission situation.
Considering Anya's current context, she would rather call herself a traitor of the nation than receive an award from Bernard.
Then what is Jason trying to do?
Scraping Bernard's wound.
Although Bernard was vile to put so many people in danger, he was in the military and respected by a lot of people. He didn't have thick skin to ignore the wrongdoing.
What if the law failed to punish Bernard?
What if Jason or Anya had no right to punish Bernard?
Bernard could reflect on his doings.
The meeting attendees looked at each other. If there was somebody else in Bernard's position, they would have enraged Jason and canceled the award for Anya. Nothing happened as such. Bernard was sitting frozen with a complex expression.
Jason's chilly voice sounded after in the silent room, "Rather than the media and public catching the news of Officer Owen denying the prestigious award…"
Jason paused, shooting the curiosity of others to the roof. Jason snickered faintly and mocked, "President Collins, I suggest you change the award or the presenter."
Bernard's eyes widened hearing Jason. Yet he couldn't bring himself to retort. He had nothing to defend himself. He was guilty, he felt like a criminal whose conscience was eating him, slowly.
A few gasped in understanding that Jason asked for the change of president as it was always the President of the country who bestows the award to the awardee.
A middle-aged man condemned his conduct of Jason, "Chief Jason, you are being disrespectful to the President."
Jason stood up as he lowered his gaze to the table. He leisurely grabbed the water bottle and unscrewed the cap looking at the man who criticized his actions. These men knew he would anyway shut them up, yet they tried to comment.
Jason smoothly shifted the direction of the question, "Mr. Kenneth, why don't you ask President Collins if I am being respectful or stating the fact?"
Jason smirked coldly and sipped water. Then he saluted Chief Justice who nodded at him. All looked at Jason walk away, leaving the room back to silence.
Ricardo saw Bernard wasn't in condition to continue the meeting or answer anybody. So he played his trick. A mobile vibrating sound was obvious in the silence, he pretended to be checking the mobile as if it was ringing.
Ricardo went aside and acted as if he spoke to somebody. He whispered in Bernard's ear, "President Collins, let me escort you out."
Bernard nodded and Ricardo announced, "An emergency work cropped up. Please excuse us."
Bernard stood up, causing everyone to stand with him excluding the Chief Justice. Bernard bowed to the old man and left the room in absolute silence.
The Chief Justice could only sigh and continue the meeting as none of them were free enough to gather another day or different time. "I will have a discussion about Officer Owen with President Collins and Chief Jason. Let's resume the meeting and finalize today."
Others could only agree and recommenced the meeting.
—––––––
In the study room of Bernard,
He locked himself inside and sat on the armchair, breathing irregularly. Linus wasn't talking with him, he wasn't daring to go home and face his father, Alvin was waiting for his reaction after the secret court verdict, and His friend, Wright ignored him in the morning, he had no face to meet Anya Owen.
Nothing felt normal and he was restless from Saturday. He focused on nothing and wasn't able to sleep or eat. He just randomly thought of his actions and was clueless about how to react.
An apology? Only if it could work. As a former soldier, he knew an apology was nothing but useless once the damage was done.
'How could I not think it through?'
Being in politics, he realized he also became a self-absorbed politician. This wasn't his goal. He always wanted to serve and do good. He even hoped to change the corrupt politicians who could build the nation better.
Changing others?
A self-mocking smile appeared on his face. He didn't change anybody but changed himself and became one with others.
Bernard's thoughts continued which made him hate himself more and more.
—–––––––
At Coastal City,
Anya became extremely busy with the work as soon as her flight landed in the Coastal city. She was working on fast forward while others found it hard to match up with her speed.
Sometimes, they made mistakes or asked her twice. Anya was patient with them while gathering one after another evidence. But she was ruthless when some employees of Johnson didn't cooperate with the interrogation without confessing the truth.
In the blink of an eye, it was afternoon. Anya sent a batch of members to lunch as she continued her work. She was busy retrieving the recorded audio instructions when her mobile rang.
Anya answered without checking the caller's name, "Hello!?"
[Momma… Where are you?] Zane's excited voice filled her ears, gracing her stoic face with a lovely smile.
"Baby… Why are you so excited? Are you having fun with Alvin?" She went aside signaling a cop to keep an eye on the system.
Despite knowing she was talking with her son, the cops couldn't help but feel the soothing mellowness in her voice and her petite face.
[Momma, I asked you first.] It was more like a plea.
Anya chuckled and responded, "Baby at a company called Johnson shore communication."
The line went silent, causing Anya to call out, "Baby, are you there?"
[Momma, could you please come to La Profumeria at Grand Hotel Excelsior in twenty minutes?] Zane requested in his bubbly and pleading voice.
Anya became alert. She couldn't hear anything on the other end, if he was calling her to a restaurant in a hotel, then they were definitely in the Coastal city.
"Uff, your Chipmunk Monster is so clingy." She had clearly told him, they don't have to travel so much and he should do his work.
Zane burst into hearty laughter and Alvin snapped at her, [Little Donut, I will show you who is clingy.]
Anya didn't understand what he meant. She just stuck her tongue out and agreed, "Alright, I will come for lunch. Order the food if I am late."
[Yes Momma, we are still on the way so don't drive fast.] Zane responded without letting Alvin speak.
Anya smiled to herself when the call ended. But the smile disappeared when a cop reported to her, "Officer Owen, those political families are using their party members and blocking the roads. They aren't allowing us to move the body to the hospital for postpartum. They are demanding justice and the bodies."
Anya thought to check the live situation but there will be a lot of reporters. "Is it possible to shift the bodies to different small ports and transfer them to the hospital?"
"Captain David is looking into it." He reported the situation, in case she had any instructions.
Anya nodded and instructed, "Call me if anything. Swap the spots and go to lunch when they come." She grabbed her bag and left to meet her baby and boo.
On the way, she dropped by at the port that was blocked. Standing on the rooftop of a building, she watched people blocking the port entry and exit without disrupting the roads. But it didn't look as simple as asking the body without postpartum. Somebody seemed to be playing behind the scenes.
Anya dialed Captain David's number. "Send a cop to the group of people and try to find out how they were influenced to block the port."
The victim's family would rather ask them to complete the procedures soon and give them the body for the funeral, instead of keeping the bodies in the cold boxes on the road. So she wanted to see if she could find any clue.
Then Anya drove to the hotel where Casper and Zane were standing face to face without Alvin's knowledge.
New novel chapt𝒆rs are published on free(w)ebnovel(.)com