He looked toward Mitchell.
The trainee was already helping another man carry equipment.
Ryan nodded.
“I hope you’re right.”
Daniel checked his watch.
“We should head inside.”
Emma nodded.
Ryan glanced toward the administrative building beyond the range.
“You’re doing interviews today?”
“Yes.”
His mouth tightened.
Emma noticed.
“Master Chief.”
He looked at her.
“Don’t coach them.”
Ryan almost looked offended.
Then he caught himself.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good.”
He nodded.
“I won’t.”
Daniel turned toward the building.
Emma followed.
After several steps, Ryan called behind them.
“Ms. Carter.”
Emma stopped.
She turned.
Ryan stood alone near Lane Three.
The five spent casings remained on the gravel near his boots.
He held one in his hand.
“I meant the apology.”
Emma watched him.
“I know.”
He nodded.
She turned away.
Daniel waited until they were several yards farther.
“You believe him?”
“Yes.”
“That quickly?”
Emma glanced back once.
Ryan had crouched near the firing line.
He was collecting the remaining brass himself.
“I believe he meant it.”
Daniel followed her gaze.
“That doesn’t erase anything.”
“No.”
“But it matters.”
“Yes.”
They continued walking.
The building’s glass doors reflected the bright afternoon.
Behind them, the range settled into post-training routine.
Cases closed.
Metal latches clicked.
Voices stayed low.
Inside the briefing room, Emma interviewed the trainees one at a time.
She asked the same questions.
What did they observe?
How did Ryan usually correct mistakes?
Did people feel comfortable raising concerns?
Did humor ever cross lines?
The answers varied.
Most respected him.
Several praised his technical skill.
Two described him as demanding but fair.
Three admitted he sometimes embarrassed people when frustrated.
One said nobody challenged him on bad days.
Emma wrote that down.
Mitchell entered near the end.
He sat across from her.
His hands stayed clasped.
Emma asked, “Was today unusual?”
Mitchell thought carefully.
“The rifle thing was unusual.”
“What about the way he spoke to me?”
Mitchell hesitated.
“No, ma’am.”
Emma waited.
“He can be like that when he thinks somebody doesn’t know what they’re doing.”
“Does he verify first?”
Mitchell looked down.
“Not always.”
Emma wrote.
Mitchell shifted.
“He’s helped me a lot too.”
Emma looked up.
“I believe you.”
“He stayed late when I struggled with qualification.”
“That matters.”
“He’s not a bad leader.”
Emma set down her pen.
“I didn’t ask whether he was.”
Mitchell looked at her.
“I know.”
“Good leaders can have damaging habits.”
He nodded.
“That’s harder to fix sometimes.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone can point to the good parts.”
Emma nodded.
Mitchell understood.
“And then nobody wants to mention the bad parts.”
“Exactly.”
He looked toward the closed door.
“You’re going to recommend removing him?”
Emma did not answer.
“I haven’t completed the evaluation.”
Mitchell nodded.
“Right.”
She closed her notebook.
“Thank you for being candid.”
He stood.
At the door, he paused.
“Ma’am?”
“Yes?”
“I think he’ll change.”
Emma looked at him.
“Why?”
Mitchell gave a small smile.
“He looked sick when he realized I checked his face before answering you.”
Emma remembered.
“So?”
“He notices things.”
Mitchell opened the door.
“He just doesn’t always notice himself.”
After he left, Emma sat alone.
The room became quiet.
Her notebook rested open beneath fluorescent lights.
She reviewed the pages.
Strong technical leadership.
Clear safety enforcement.
High standards.
Reliable preparation.
Public ridicule under frustration.
Status-based assumptions.
Defensiveness when challenged.
Trainees monitor mood.
Capacity for immediate correction.
Accepted responsibility publicly.
Did not retaliate after criticism.
Listened after confrontation.
She stared at the final lines.
Daniel entered.
“Finished?”
“With interviews.”
“And?”
Emma leaned back.
“Complicated.”
Daniel smiled.
“That usually means accurate.”
She looked at him.
“You knew about the complaints.”
Daniel’s smile vanished.
“I knew there were concerns.”
“How many?”
“Enough to justify observation.”
Emma tapped the notebook.
“You could have told me.”
“I didn’t want to bias you.”
“You brought me here specifically.”
“Yes.”
“Ryan knows that now.”
“Yes.”
Emma studied Daniel.
“And he thinks the entire visit was designed around him.”
Daniel sat across from her.
“It was designed around leadership.”
“That sounds carefully phrased.”
“It is.”
Emma waited.
Daniel sighed.
“Two instructors reported concerns during the last six months.”
“About humiliation?”
“Mostly communication.”
“Mostly?”
“One trainee requested reassignment.”
Emma’s face tightened.
“Why wasn’t that in the packet?”
“He never filed a formal complaint.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Daniel nodded.
“You’re right.”
Emma closed the notebook.
“So everybody has blind spots today.”
Daniel gave a tired smile.
“Apparently.”
“You included.”
“Yes.”
The admission came quickly.
Emma studied him.
“Good.”
Daniel leaned back.
“You still believe bringing you unannounced was appropriate?”
“Yes.”
“Even after that?”
“Yes.”
She looked through the window toward the range.
Ryan was still outside.
“But I’ll note the incomplete background disclosure.”
Daniel nodded.
“Fair.”
“You don’t get protected because you invited the evaluator.”
“I wasn’t expecting to.”
“You were hoping.”
Daniel laughed quietly.
“Maybe a little.”
Emma allowed a brief smile.
Then it disappeared.
“What happens to Ryan if my report is negative?”
“Depends on severity.”
“Leadership remediation?”
“Possible.”
“Removal?”
“Possible.”
Emma looked toward the window again.
Ryan stood with Mitchell beside a storage rack.
He appeared to be listening while Mitchell spoke.
“What do you think?” Daniel asked.
Emma stayed silent for a moment.