He placed the notebook on Albright’s desk.

The green leather of the desk inlay was worn near the edges.

Albright reached out and flipped the notebook open.

He put on his reading glasses, his hand slightly unsteady.

Captain Merritt stepped closer, trying to see over the General’s shoulder.

“These are photocopies, Colonel,” Merritt said.

“The originals are in a safe deposit box,” Cole replied. “My lawyer has the key.”

He leaned forward, placing both hands on the edge of the desk.

“I want the tribunal inquiry dropped,” Cole said.

Albright did not look up from the page. “You are asking for a complete erasure of the file.”

“I am asking for an honorable discharge,” Cole said.

“And my full pension.”

“You falsified intelligence reports in the Wardak province,” I said, stepping toward him.

“You left three local informants to die to cover the discrepancy.”

Cole did not look at me. He kept his eyes on Albright.

“The public does not know about Wardak,” Cole said.

“But they do know Arthur Vale.”

“He was a hero of the Gulf,” Cole added. “His name is on the library at West Point.”