Chapter 3 - The Mail Carrier's Testimony
Mr. Greer stepped down from the cab of his vintage blue pickup truck, leaning on a cane he had carried since his tour in Vietnam.
He unbuttoned his canvas mail carrier satchel and pulled out an accordion folder bulging with sealed manila envelopes.
"I've delivered the mail on Oak Crest Lane for thirty-one years, Sheriff," Mr. Greer announced, his voice ringing through the afternoon quiet.
"And for forty-eight months, every envelope bearing an APO overseas military postmark addressed to this house was shoved back into my hand."
He laid the thick bundle of letters across the hood of Sheriff Vance’s patrol cruiser.
"Every single one of them was marked 'Refused - Return to Sender' in Diane Parker’s personal handwriting."
Diane lunged toward the cruiser, her manicured nails clawing at the letters before Deputy Miller caught her wrists.
"Don't touch that evidence, ma'am!" the deputy barked, twisting her around against the cruiser door.
"Those are personal family letters! He had no right to hold onto them!" Diane screamed, thrashing against his grip.
"They aren't personal letters, Diane," Mr. Greer replied calmly, pulling a certified postal inspection manifest from his vest.
"They are official United States government correspondence sent by an active-duty soldier."
"Obstructing the delivery of federal military mail is an independent federal crime investigated by the Postal Inspection Service."
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"I contacted the postal inspector's field office in Knoxville two weeks ago when Emily alerted me of her return date," Mr. Greer added.
"Special Agent Barnes is already parked around the corner with a federal search warrant."
