Page 79 of Hart's Redemption

“Language, Commander,” Lily Albright cautioned from her seat on the panel. “This is not a platform to air your personal dislikes. If you cannot maintain impartiality, then your testimony will be stricken from the record and you will be forcibly removed from these proceedings.”

“Understood, Coven Leader Albright.” Hightower returned her attention to the witness. “How was your petition met?”

“With resistance.”

“Do you have any speculation as to why?”

“Friends in high places.”

Hightower pursed her lips in feigned thought. “Are you referring to Detective Angela Starling, who now holds the esteemed position of Director?”

Commander Walsh crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “One and the same.”

Hightower turned to face the panel. “No further questions at this time.”

Senator Stevens gestured to Lombardi. “Your witness, counselor.”

Lombardi took his time peeling himself out of his seat and straightening his suit before approaching where Walsh sat, smug as a cat with cream. “Commander Walsh, records show that you yourself were once enrolled in the Lycan Detective program. Is that true?”

His arms tightened. “It is.”

“And were you not in the same recruitment class as Detective Hart?”

“I was, but…”

“I understand you gained the privilege to apply from your outstanding work with the military. A rising star by any means.”

“Councilor, are you aiming to make a point?” Senator Johnson interrupted. “Commander Walsh’s military commendations are not what are in question here.”

“Just so, theyarepertinent,” Lombardi acquiesced. “Commander Walsh, you had the promise of an impressive career before you. That was until you failed to pass the rigorous training required of all Lycan Detectives.”

Walsh’s face pinched with barely contained fury. “I found my calling elsewhere.”

“Clarify for me, if you will. Did you request to have my client removed from the very program that you yourself proved inadequate to pursue before or after he publicly humiliated you in front of your peers?”

“Objection! Inflammatory and argumentative,” Councilor Hightower called from her seat.

“Sustained.” I wasn’t sure who said it, but judging by the smug expressions on each representative of the UFH, it was obviously one of them.

Lombardi bowed his head. “I’ll rephrase. Did you request to have Joshua Hart removed from the programafterhe bested you in a routine sparring match andbeforeyou learned his true age?”

“That’s not what happened,” Commander Walsh said through gritted teeth, his face becoming increasingly red.

“It’s not? Exhibit Delta, esteemed tribunal.” Lombardi walked back to the desk and thumbed awake the data tab sitting closest to the edge. He flicked the image on the screen towards the wall where a screen hung, waiting to display evidence. “Records show that on November 15th of 2157, you and Joshua Hart were assigned a sparring match to determine your readiness to proceed to the next tier of training. By all accounts, you were defeated in an impressive two minutes.”

“Esteemed panel, relevance?” Hightower spoke up.

“The point, Councilor Lombardi,” Senator Stevens reiterated.

“Exhibit R, as previously submitted by the prosecution.” Lombardi swiped at the screen on the desk, and the image on thewall changed to a formal petition placed by Lieutenant Richard Walsh. “As the tribunal can see, the petition is dated November 27th of the same year. An astonishing twelve days after you were dropped from the program. Contrary to what the prosecution would have the tribunal believe, the petition was not submitted on grounds of age or any other potential ineligibility. You didn’t contest Detective Hart’s placement in the program until after you and your career options were destroyed by a sixteen-year-old boy. Well before Detective Starling intervened and actuallypreventedDetective Hart from taking his oaths for a full year.”

By now, Walsh had uncrossed his arms. He leaned forward, his face now blotchy red, and aggressively pointed at Josh. “That arrogant prick never should have been allowed to take the oaths in the first place!”

Lombardi turned his back on the furious commander to once again address the panel at large. “I move to dismiss any and all testimony provided by Commander Richard Walsh as biased and unreliable.”

The panel shared looks among themselves. “Motion sustained,” Senator Stevens said at last, though he looked as though he’d rather eat a live hornet. “Commander Walsh, if you would please step down.”

The prosecution brought forward several more witnesses from various militant groups in an attempt to degrade Josh’s character and undermine his position as a Lycan Detective. Each and every one, Lombardi twisted their testimony to build up Josh’s unwavering professionalism and dedication to the position. By the end of the fifth attempt to discredit Josh, the prosecution threw out all pretense of subtlety.