“It’s the Pentagon,” Vance said.

“Don’t answer it,” I said.

“If you do, they will offer a compromise.”

“They will tell you they are handling it with a quiet court-martial.”

“General Albright is already setting up the tribunal to protect his own reputation.”

Vance looked at the ringing phone, then back at the logbook.

He let the call go to voicemail.

“Albright called the Senator ten minutes ago,” Vance admitted, looking up at me.

“He offered a full plea bargain for Harrington.”

“Cole would retire at his current rank, with his pension intact, in exchange for his silence.”

“The military wants this buried, Eleanor.”

“They cannot afford a public scandal during a budget cycle.”

“I know,” I said.

“That is why I brought the physical evidence to you.”

“Once this is in the committee’s hands, the military cannot touch it.”

“The public needs to see what happened to the Vale Cell.”

“My father died believing his reports were being read by the Joint Chiefs.”

“Instead, Cole was using them to justify a drone program that didn’t work.”

Vance nodded slowly, his fingers tracing the edge of the paper.