Carter, sit down or the bailiffs will remove you,” Judge Reynolds said without looking up from the folder.

The courtroom went dead quiet while the judge broke the blue plastic seal on the dossier.

She drew out the certified command authorization from Captain Holt, her thumb resting on the raised brass military seal stamped neatly across the top.

She checked the certified mail receipt clipped to the military filing, which confirmed that my emergency leave orders had been delivered straight to the clerk three days before.

“This leave clearance is fully verified, and the military authorities have dismissed the misconduct complaint filed against Commander Carter,” Judge Reynolds said.