“They’re accusing you of stealing classified military property.”

“That’s a lie,” I said.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a lie,” Avery said. “The wheels are already turning.”

“He’s trying to lock me down before I can present the files,” I said.

“Yes,” Avery said. “But there’s another problem.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve been looking over the declassified files I gave you,” the General said.

“The fraud occurred a long time ago, Natalie.”

I looked down at the journal open on the table.

The faded ink of the date stared back at me.

“How long ago?” I whispered.

“Seventeen years,” Avery said.

The line went quiet for a moment, save for the static of the encrypted line.

“You need to check the federal statutes,” Avery said.

I grabbed my laptop from the side table and flipped it open.

My fingers flew across the keyboard as I logged into the military legal database.

I typed in the search query for federal procurement fraud statutes.

The screen loaded, the blue light reflecting in the dark room.

My eyes scanned the lines of text, searching for the specific limitations.