Wyler shut the folder with a dry slap of paper.

He looked up at me, his eyes narrowing a little behind his clear frames.

“The Navy’s public affairs mandate for local schools is clear, Master Chief.

We don’t allow inaccurate military titles to be presented to civilian audiences.

It borders on stolen valor.”

I looked him straight in the eye, rubbing the brass buckle on my service uniform belt with my right thumb.

“Stolen valor is a federal crime involving fraudulent claims of military honors.