Chapter 7 - The People Who Heard Frank on the Phone Could Not Solve My Family
Colonel Mercer heard:
the slap?
No.
The microphone was too far away.
He heard:
Frank demanding to know who was on the phone.
Rachel telling him to put something down.
Frank saying:
“before I make you regret lying.”
Then later enough to understand:
weapon threat.
Mercer was a witness.
Not a magical recording.
The secure line was not some perfect courtroom tape.
The incident was supported by:
my statement,
physical injury,
Frank’s handgun recovered beneath the table,
responding officers,
his own statements,
and what Mercer could testify he heard.
Frank’s lawyer immediately began doing what competent lawyers do:
narrowing facts.
Was the firearm pointed directly?
For how long?
Was Frank lawfully carrying?
Was Rachel injured by the slap or fall?
Did Rachel’s kick constitute force?
Was Frank intending to fire?
All relevant.
None transformed what happened into:
misunderstanding.
The Army did not prosecute:
Frank.
Civilian authorities did.
Good.
I did not want stars on my shoulders changing:
May you like
his legal process.
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