My Substitute Wife Is Not on the Return Manifest novel · Chapter 13 of 24
Chapter 13: The Second Envelope
The senior officer turned the envelope over and found the flap sealed with a strip of clear tape.
"This was opened," he said.
"Years ago," Brooke said. "I put the tape on myself."
Nobody spoke.
"Lieutenant Commander," the officer said at last, "you may read it in the next room. The board will wait."
Dane took the envelope in both hands.
He did not look at Brooke.
He looked at Signe, and she nodded, and he went out through the side door.
Brooke stayed where she was, hands clasped, eyes on the table.
Signe stayed too.
Nobody asked her to leave, and she had decided she would not be asked twice.
Dane came back a long while later.
His face was gray, but his shoulders were square.
He stood at the foot of the table and waited for the officer to speak.
"The board has reached its finding," the officer said. "Your hearing loss is disqualifying for flight status. It is not disqualifying for service."
Dane did not move.
"You are reassigned to the operations desk at this station, effective Monday. You'll sit the waiver review in a year. If the surgeon signs it, you may apply for a rescue-coordinator slot. You will not fly an aircraft as pilot in command again."
"Yes, sir."
"For what it's worth," the surgeon said, "I've read the log from Sunday. I'd have signed that flight myself."
Dane's jaw worked once.
"Thank you, sir."
Brooke stood up so fast her chair scraped.
"That's it?" she said. "That's all of it? He walks out with a desk?"
"He walks out with a desk," the senior officer said. "You walk out with the letter, Ms. Ellery, which is now his. You may go."
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