“If we accept this, it becomes a congressional record,” Vance said, his voice dropping.

“The Department of Defense will call it a breach of national security.”

“They will try to classify the entire proceeding to keep it out of the papers.”

“They cannot classify a direct Senate investigation into budget fraud and falsified combat reports,” I said.

“Cole used these fake numbers to secure three separate defense appropriations.”

“He lied to the Senate Armed Services Committee last October.”

“That is perjury, Mr. Vance.”

“It is also treason against the men he left behind in that valley.”

Vance reached out and opened the logbook to the first marked page.

His eyes scanned the columns of numbers, the red ink corrections, and the initials in the margins.

“This is Harrington’s handwriting,” Vance muttered, his finger tracing a signature.

“And these are Major Cross’s log entries,” I said, pointing to the neater script below.

“She was the operations liaison.”

“She kept the double books.”

The phone on Vance’s desk began to ring, its shrill tone loud in the quiet room.

He looked at the caller ID and hesitated, his jaw tightening.