“If we proceed, this will be on the front page of every major newspaper by tomorrow afternoon,” he said.

“The Senate will strip Cole of his command and his security clearances.”

“We will freeze his assets under the anti-fraud statutes.”

“But they will come after you, Eleanor.”

“They will try to paint you as a bitter ex-wife looking for revenge.”

“Let them try,” I said.

“I have the metadata from the secure servers to back up every line in that book.”

A sharp knock rattled the heavy wooden door of the office.

Vance froze, his hand stopping over the pages of the logbook.

The knock came again, louder this time, authoritative and demanding.

“Marcus?” a voice called out from the corridor.

It was a woman’s voice, sharp and precise.

I recognized it instantly.

It was Major Vanessa Cross.

“She shouldn’t be in this building,” Vance whispered, his hand moving toward his desk drawer.

“She has friends in Capitol security,” I said.

“Cole sent her.”

“Do not open that door, Marcus.”

“Marcus, open the door,” Cross said through the wood.

“We know Mrs. Harrington is in there.”