Claire kept her back to me.

“I have to get back to the headquarters,” I said.

“There is a lot of work to do.”

My father reached out and touched my shoulder.

“Take care of the base, Colonel,” he said.

It was the first time he had ever used my rank.

“I will,” I said.

I walked out of the courtroom into the blinding Texas heat.

The air was thick and smelled of asphalt.

I walked across the parade field toward the main administration building.

The soldiers I passed saluted me.

I returned their salutes with a crisp movement of my hand.

The whispers were already starting to fade.

The scandal was over; now the rebuilding had to begin.

I climbed the concrete steps of the headquarters.

The heavy brass doors swung open.

I walked down the long corridor toward the commander’s office.

The nameplate on the door had already been changed.

It now read: *Colonel Emily Parker, Commanding.*

I paused for a second before touching the brass doorknob.

This was the room where Andrew had tried to destroy my career.