“Lieutenant Wyler took over the whole Navy display area yesterday afternoon,” Valerie said.

She pressed the silver pen into her thumbs until her knuckles went white.

“He spent half an hour with the principal arguing that unverified military claims defeat the whole educational point of Career Day.”

“My credentials are official,” I told her.

“I know they are,” Valerie whispered, looking back over her shoulder at Wyler.

“But he put a red clip on your registration form, Sarah.

He told Principal Thorne he means to enforce full verification right at the microphone.”