I walked toward the door, my mind racing through the protocols of military law.

A formal inquiry from the Senate Armed Services Committee would freeze my authority instantly.

I would be barred from Fort Liberty, unable to access the files I needed to protect Emily.

I reached the heavy oak door and turned the brass handle.

As I stepped out into the hallway, the light on my transmitter suddenly turned from blinking green to a solid, angry red.

The signal was dead.

I looked down at the device, my fingers trembling slightly.

The screen of my personal phone in my purse began to vibrate against my side.

I pulled it out and saw an unknown number from a Washington, D.C. area code.

I answered it, pressing the phone to my ear as I walked toward the exit of the estate.

“Colonel Hart,” a man’s voice said, sharp and official.

“This is Colonel Hart,” I said.

“This is Colonel Vance from the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate,” the voice said. “You are ordered to report to the command building at Fort Liberty at 0800 hours tomorrow.”