“He said the government would find another supplier if we didn’t deliver on time.”

I watched the stenographer’s fingers fly over the keys.

On the other side of the room, Colonel Whitaker sat with his new team of criminal defense lawyers.

His face was expressionless, his eyes fixed on the microphone in front of Aaron.

Cassandra was not there.

I had heard from Ethan that she had left for New York the day after the courtroom confrontation.

The hearing lasted for six hours.

By the end of the day, the committee had voted to refer the matter to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution.

The defense firm’s stock had tumbled forty percent.

Two weeks later, the formal indictments were handed down.

Colonel Thomas Whitaker was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of justice.

Aaron Vale pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of conspiracy in exchange for his continued cooperation.

I met Aaron one last time at a small coffee shop near the Navy Yard.

The autumn wind was blowing dry leaves across the pavement.

We sat at a metal table outside.