He’s looking for any excuse to disqualify you.”

“I know exactly what to say to the lieutenant, Valerie.”

She released my cuff and pressed her silver pen flat to her palm.

I turned to the wooden EOD service chest Kenneth had put on the wooden bench by the lockers.

The dark oak box was heavy, fitted with brass corner brackets and stenciled across the lid with my name, MERRICK, in faded black block paint.

The brass latch sprang open with a sharp metallic snap that rang down the empty hallway like a dry-fired rifle.