Knox unlocked the narrow door to the secure holding room at the back of the liaison office.

“Step inside, Private,” Knox said, using the lower rank before any formal board had even met.

Evan looked back over his shoulder at me for three full seconds, his lower lip pressed tight, but he said nothing.

He stepped through the door frame, and Officer Knox shoved the heavy lock shut with a solid metallic click.

Evan sat down on the lone metal chair inside the windowless holding room and stared without a word at the gray linoleum floor.

General Vance laid two white government folders side by side on the metal desk.