“I don’t write affidavits to shield men who steal from the military.”

The back door of the lead vehicle slammed, shutting Julian in behind dark tinted glass.

Captain Keller held out a blue ink pen and a military clearance clipboard.

“Sign the asset transfer release, Major Vance.

Once you sign, the property goes back into your sole possession under full military legal protection.”

I took the pen from him.

I braced the clipboard on the hood of the second vehicle and signed my name across the bottom line of Directive 409-B.

The pager in my coat pocket gave one last silent buzz as the countdown screen dropped to zero.