Miller must have been hit through the window. Through Greer’s camera, they saw the man set down his M4 rifle and remove his helmet, then turn and sit on the floor. For a moment, Miller’s body cam caught the image of Greer standing over him, pistol raised. Then Miller’s camera blinked out.
In Greer’s camera, they watched the orange-yellow mass of Sergeant Miller sitting on the ground, staring down the barrel of Private Greer’s pistol. He barely moved.
Greer took another step forward. Even in the thermal image, it was clear that the sergeant was remaining calm, trying to talk his soldier off a ledge.
A moment later Greer dropped the pistol, and then crouched. His body cam began to subtly shake up and down. He was crying. Miller stood and walked to him.
Another D-17 entered the room and shot PFC Greer in the back, then moved through the room and up the stairs. Greer’s body cam cut out.
The two agents sat in silence as they watched the remaining couple of minutes of the battle play out across the patchwork of images. When the last of the Rangers’ cameras went dark, ten tin men remained standing. Another grim defeat.
Brodie and Taylor looked at each other. Then Taylor said, “Bucky knew. It fuckingknew, Scott. It saw that one of the Rangers was going to kill another, and it just moved on.”
Brodie now understood why Major Ames was so interested in this incident. It showed a level of cognition—maybe even malice—that these things were not supposed to possess. And in the real-time VRplayback of the after-action review, Ames was probably the only one who had noticed it happen.
There’s a ghost in the machine.
Praetorian. They had to figure out what it was, and who put it there, and why.
Taylor said, “Blackmail.”
Brodie looked at her. “What?”
“Why did Private Greer allow Ames to access the Vault alone on three separate occasions by giving him his code, a major violation of protocol? One time, I can understand maybe. He got pressured by a commissioned officer. But Ames was aware of Greer’s schedule, and at what times the private was alone, and exploited that. Greer understood that he was helping Ames do something that the major did not want anyone else knowing about. Why would he do that? Because Ames knew Greer had almost fragged his platoon sergeant. And he was theonly onewho knew other than Miller. And I’m sure he promised Greer he’d keep it that way.”
Brodie nodded. “So long as Greer returned the favor regarding the major’s late nights in the Vault. These two interacted much more than the private let on. So what else is this guy hiding from us?”
Taylor stood. “Let’s find out.”
CHAPTER 30
CORPORAL NIMITZ SNAPPED A SALUTEas the two CID agents approached the barracks. They returned the salute, and Brodie asked, “Anyone in or out?”
“No, sir.”
“Do you have someone at the other door?”
“Yes, sir. Corporal Rivera.”
“Good. As you were.”
They entered the barracks, which apparently were being guarded by two of Camp Hayden’s seven MPs. That left five others for the armory, the Vault, the brig, the admin building, and the two gates. Never mind the guard towers. Colonel Howe was trying to create the illusion of control, but that’s all it was.
Someone had cleaned up the cans of energy drinks and beer from the desk in the lobby. They took the stairs up to the third floor. All of the hallway doors were closed. They heard no talking, only the faint sounds of music or TV coming from the rooms.
They approached the door to Room 3H, and Brodie noticed a plastic tray on the floor with a metal covering. Must have been lunch delivered by the mess. Brodie lifted the cover. A burger and fries, and a pile of steamed vegetables. Completely untouched. He looked down the hall and noted that no other doors had food sitting outside.
Brodie knocked. “Private Greer! This is Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, CID.”
No immediate answer, and Brodie didn’t wait before opening the door.
Directly ahead of them was an open window. Brodie ran to it and leaned out. If Greer had jumped, he’d walked away from the fall. Then Brodie spotted a drainpipe about three feet to the right of the window. He must have shimmied down.
Brodie took out his walkie and switched to Channel 2. “Brodie for Sergeant Mendez. Over.”
In a moment the walkie crackled:“Yes, sir. Mendez here. Over.”
“Your people need to do a room check and a head count at the barracks. We have at least one AWOL. PFC Greer. Climbed out his window. Over.”
