The door handle turned with a sharp click.

The door opened, and Major Vance stepped back into the room.

His expression was grim, his eyes fixed on me.

“Colonel,” he said, saluting briefly.

“What is it, Major?” I asked.

“The transport from Fort Sam Houston has arrived early,” he said.

“And?”

“They brought a warrant, ma’am,” Vance said, looking directly at Claire.

“A warrant for what?” my mother gasped, stepping in front of Claire.

Vance pulled a folded document from his pocket.

“A warrant to seize all personal electronic devices and financial records at the quarters,” he said.

Claire looked up, her eyes wide with terror.

“They are going to our house?” she whispered.

“They are on their way there now, ma’am,” Vance said.

My father took a step backward, his hand falling from my mother’s shoulder.

“And there’s one more thing, Colonel,” Vance said to me.

He lowered his voice slightly.

“The lead investigator needs to speak with you immediately. They found something else in Andrew’s office.”

“What did they find?” I asked.

The red light on the General’s desk phone began to flash again, its steady, rhythmic pulse drawing everyone’s attention.