The room inside was cold.

Captain Vance was already back at his seat, reviewing a stack of white papers.

Nathan Reed sat with his head in his hands, his fingers dug deep into his short, sandy hair.

He did not look up when the door clicked shut.

I walked to the head of the table and sat down.

I placed my hands flat on the polished wood.

“The recess is over,” I said.

Nathan flinched, then slowly raised his head.

His face was pale, and his eyes were bloodshot.

“Commander Reed, please sit up straight,” Captain Vance said.

Nathan pulled his shoulders back, but his chest was shallow.

I opened the second folder on my desk, the one marked with red security tape.

“Commander, we have verified the digital logs from the secure server at the Coronado facility,” I said.

“They match the timeline of your physical presence in the building.”

Nathan swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple moving behind his stiff collar.

“I was authorized to be in that building, Admiral,” he said.

“You were authorized to be in the logistics office,” I said.