The hallway was quiet.

I walked back to the polished mahogany desk.

The sun was still shining through the windows, casting bright squares on the floor.

I looked at the large leather chair behind the desk.

It had belonged to Andrew.

It had belonged to the corrupt officers before him.

Now it belonged to me.

I walked around the desk.

I pulled the chair out.

I sat down.

The leather groaned slightly under my weight.

I leaned back.

The room felt different now.

The air felt clean.

I looked at the thick blue folder on the desk.

I pulled it toward me.

I opened the first page.

It was the inventory report for the motor pool.

There were discrepancies in the fuel logs.

There were missing parts.

I picked up a pen from the drawer.

I pressed the intercom button.

“Major Reynolds,” I said.

“Yes, Colonel?” he answered.

“Bring the motor pool chief to my office,” I said. “We have work to do.”

“Right away, ma’am,” he said.

I released the button.

I looked at the paperwork in front of me.

My family was gone.

My name was cleared.

I began to read the first line of the report.