The defense counsel was a civilian lawyer Andrew had hired from San Antonio.

The civilian looked like he wanted to be anywhere else.

Major Higgins did not waste time.

He called the chief of the logistics section first.

The officer testified about the missing fuel shipments.

He testified about the pressure Andrew had put on him to sign the false manifests.

“Colonel Carter told me it was a matter of national security,” the officer said.

“He said if I asked questions, my next transfer would be to an outpost in the Arctic.”

Then Higgins called the bank examiner.

He showed the paper trail.

There were three dummy corporations registered in Delaware.

The bank accounts were in the Bahamas.

Over four hundred thousand dollars had moved through those accounts in eighteen months.

“The signatures on the transfer documents match the defendant’s handwriting,” the examiner said.

“We also found digital signatures linked to Colonel Carter’s personal laptop.”

My mother let out a soft gasp behind me.

I heard my father whisper something to her, his voice tight.

I kept my eyes fixed on the front.