The heat in the room was rising despite the air conditioning.

The smell of old wood and wool uniforms was thick.

The most damaging testimony came from Captain Miller.

He was a young officer with a young family.

He stood at the podium, his voice shaking slightly.

“Colonel Carter found out about my wife’s medical bills,” Miller said.

“He knew we were struggling.”

“He told me he could make the debt disappear if I changed the maintenance logs for the transport vehicles.”

“When I refused, he showed me a draft of an administrative reprimand.”

“He said he would file it and ruin my career if I didn’t cooperate.”

Higgins entered the draft reprimand into evidence.

It had been recovered from the safe in Andrew’s office.

The safe I had opened.

Andrew’s civilian lawyer tried to cross-examine Miller.

He asked if Miller had any proof of the verbal threats.

“I have this,” Miller said.

He pulled a small digital recorder from his pocket.

“I recorded our last meeting in his office.”

The defense lawyer objected immediately.

The judge, a stern Colonel named Arispe, overruled the objection.