The agents moved past me, handcuffing Voss and my mother.

Caroline did not look at me as they led her up the stairs.

She kept her chin high, her posture straight, maintaining her dignity to the very end.

I watched her disappear into the light of the hallway above.

Mara walked over and stood beside me in the damp basement.

“Where is your father?” she asked quietly.

“He is safe,” I said.

“He is waiting at the safehouse in Maryland.”

“He wants to testify.”

“He will get his chance,” Mara said.

“But it will not be easy for him. Or for you.”

“I know,” I said.

We walked up the stairs together, leaving the dark basement behind.

The main floor of the facility was in chaos, with agents securing computer terminals and boxing up files.

The blue and red lights of police cruisers flashed through the rain-streaked windows.

I stepped out into the cool night air, letting the rain wash the dust and sweat from my face.

My military career was finished.

My name would forever be associated with one of the worst conspiracies in modern history.

But as I looked out at the flashing lights, I realized I did not care about the uniform anymore.

The lies were gone.

The truth was finally out in the open, buried no longer.

I walked down the wet gravel driveway toward Mara’s car, ready to face whatever came next.