“Your mother used her connections on the Senate Armed Services Committee to alter the routing sheets,” Hayes said. “She swapped the names. She gave you the credit for Emerson’s extraction mission.”

Michael turned slowly to Helen.

“Mother,” Michael said, his voice cracking. “Is that true?”

“Of course not,” Helen said, her voice sharp as a blade. “Do not listen to them, Michael. They are trying to tear this family apart. You earned that medal.”

“Did I?” Michael asked.

He looked down at his own hands.

He looked at the program in his hand, which listed his name under the commendation.

“The Richmond documents prove it all,” I said to Helen. “Grandmother knew what you were doing. She wrote it down. That is why you locked her out of her own home before she died.”

“You are a liar,” Helen said, her voice trembling with a rage she was trying desperately to hide.

“I have the logs, Mother,” I said. “And I have the key.”

I did not raise my voice.

I kept my eyes locked on hers, watching the desperate calculations running behind her eyes.