“This has nothing to do with competition, Father,” I said.

“You targeted him,” Claire spat. “You wanted this command so you could ruin him.”

“Andrew ruined himself,” I said. “He signed the fraudulent requisitions.”

I picked up a paper from the desk.

“He authorized the transfer of twelve tactical vehicles to a civilian buyer,” I said. “He took three hundred thousand dollars.”

Claire shook her head.

“That is a lie,” she said. “He was smart. He was making investments for our future.”

“He was taking kickbacks,” I said.

“You don’t understand how the world works,” my father said. “Andrew was a businessman.”

“Andrew was an officer,” I corrected him. “He took an oath.”

“And what about your oath to this family?” my mother asked.

She had tears in her eyes, but they were tears of frustration, not sorrow.

“You have always been cold, Emily,” she said. “We tried to support you, but you were always so distant.”

“You supported Claire,” I said. “You bought her a house with the money Andrew stole.”

My mother went pale.

“We didn’t know,” she whispered.