“Do not speak, sir,” Vance muttered.

Claire took a step forward, her face twisted in anger.

“Andrew, tell them,” she cried out.

“Tell them Emily is lying.”

“She’s been planning this since she got her orders.”

My mother grabbed Claire’s arm, trying to pull her back.

“Claire, stop,” my mother whispered.

Her voice sounded different now, hollow and uncertain.

She looked at me, her eyes wide with a sudden, terrible realization.

It was the first time in years she had looked at me without disapproval.

I kept my gaze fixed on the wall behind the General’s desk.

I could feel the heat radiating from the window behind me, the Texas sun beating against the glass.

Inside, the air conditioning hummed, blowing cold air across the back of my neck.

“Lieutenant Colonel Carter,” the General said, his voice formal and cold.

“Effective immediately, you are relieved of all duties at Fort Garrison.”

The words seemed to hang in the air between us.

Andrew flinched as if he had been struck.

“Your security clearances are suspended,” the General continued.

“Your access to all military networks is revoked.”