Chapter 22 - stonebridge tried to make luis’s military history the real story
Stonebridge did not attack Luis publicly.
Their defense attorneys were smarter than that.
Instead, during a deposition, they explored his military history.
Hypervigilance.
Prior trauma treatment.
Sleep problems.
Questions designed to sound neutral.
Could his experience make him more likely to interpret ordinary irregularities as threats?
Luis called Sarah afterward.
Furious.
“They’re saying I imagined it.”
“They’re testing credibility.”
“Same thing.”
“Not exactly.”
“They asked whether I still check exits.”
Sarah became quiet.
She did too.
Luis continued.
“I want to give them my service evaluations.”
“No.”
He stopped.
“What?”
“Why?”
“To prove I was good.”
Sarah understood the impulse immediately.
Weaponize the uniform before they could.
Prove competence through rank.
Citations.
Training.
Awards.
The exact trap she had spent years escaping.
“The inspection evidence stands on inspection evidence.”
“They brought up my service.”
“Your attorney can address relevance.”
“I want them to know who they’re talking to.”
Sarah’s voice softened.
“I know.”
Luis became quiet.
She continued.
“But if you make your military record the reason you deserve belief, what happens to the next mechanic who never served?”
That ended the argument.
Luis’s attorney limited the questioning successfully.
Some mental-health history remained admissible in narrow context.
Most did not.
The case returned to documents.
Where it belonged.
Luis later told Sarah:
“I wanted to become impressive enough that they couldn’t dismiss me.”
Sarah looked around Bennett Auto.
“Welcome to the worst hobby I ever had.”
May you like
He laughed.
She did too.
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