“You sat at Gate C27,” General Vance went on, “and claimed in public that Lieutenant Colonel Miller was wearing a fake ribbon rack and gold oak leaf rank she had no right to.”

“Sir,” Evan whispered, his boot heel tapping the linoleum once before he caught it.

“Is that what you said?” General Vance asked.

“Did you question her rank in front of twenty civilian passengers?”

“I did, General,” Evan said in a low voice.

“Officer Knox,” General Vance said, turning his head a little toward the door.

“Read the civilian witness statement into the official record.”

Officer Knox unfolded a single sheet of blue lined paper torn out of a small spiral notepad.