On the ground now.
Hands cuffed.
Mitchell standing above him.
Twenty-eight years of service compressed into one ugly second.
Bosnia.
Iraq.
Afghanistan.
Funerals.
Promotions.
Soldiers killed younger than Barnes.
Families handed folded flags.
Years of command.
And here, on a Georgia roadside five miles from a military installation, a patrol officer looked down at him and saw only a story he had already decided.
Daniel lifted his head.
His voice came out calm enough to frighten even himself.
“Do it again.”
Mitchell stared.
“What?”
“Kick me again.”
Barnes said:
“Colonel, don't.”
Mitchell looked toward Barnes.
There.
He had heard it.
Colonel.
Barnes had said it naturally.
Mitchell turned on him.
“You believe this crap?”
Barnes pointed toward the credential.
“It's real, Craig.”
“You verified it?”
“No.”
“Then shut up.”
Daniel remained on one knee.
His watch was still transmitting.
He knew now that Fort Bradley had likely heard enough.
He only needed to remain alive.
Mitchell crouched slightly.
“That fake Army card won't save you out here.”
Daniel looked directly at him.
“Fort Bradley is recording every word and every move.”
Mitchell laughed.
Daniel continued:
“The emergency channel opened when you switched off your camera.”
Mitchell's smile stopped.
Barnes looked at Daniel's wrist.
Mitchell looked too.
“What emergency channel?”
Daniel said nothing.
Mitchell's face tightened.
“You bluffing me?”
No answer.
Mitchell grabbed Daniel by the collar and pulled him upward.
Daniel rose.
Barnes moved closer.
“Craig, uncuff him.”
Mitchell shoved Barnes back with one forearm.
“Stay out of this.”
Barnes's face changed.
Not frightened now.
Angry.
“You just kicked a cuffed man.”
“He slipped.”
The woman filming shouted:
“No, he didn't!”
Mitchell spun.
“Put the phone down!”
She held it higher.
Barnes looked toward her.
Then Daniel.
Then Mitchell.
Something settled in him.
He stepped between Mitchell and Daniel.
“I'm done.”
Mitchell stared.
“What?”
“Take the cuffs off.”
“You don't order me.”
“No.”
Barnes's voice shook, but he stayed there.
“I’m telling you we're stopping this.”
Mitchell laughed.
“You want to throw away your career for some stranger?”
Barnes glanced toward Daniel.
Then back.
“No.”
“For myself.”
Mitchell moved closer until their chests almost touched.
“You think command's going to take his side?”
Barnes answered:
“I think command is going to watch the video.”
Mitchell pointed to his inactive camera.
“What video?”
Barnes tapped his own body camera.
Red light.
Recording.
Mitchell's face changed.
Daniel saw it.
For the first time, actual fear.
Not enough.
Mitchell recovered.
He pointed at Barnes.
“Turn that off.”
Barnes stepped back.
“No.”
Mitchell's hand moved toward him.