Behind my screen, Senator Hayes spoke, his voice rolling through my speakers. “Commander Vance. You have ten seconds to explain why you are conducting an illegal, armed breach of a civilian intelligence director’s home without a federal warrant.”

Harrison’s face drained of all blood. The squad behind him froze, their weapons suddenly very heavy.

I folded my hands neatly on my desk and looked at my ex-husband. “You should answer the Senator, Harrison. After all — you said I was the one having a psychological break.”

By the time the Military Police arrived, summoned by the Inspector General, Harrison was sweating through his tactical vest, stuttering about a “misunderstanding of protocols.”

The Senate recording was already locked behind a quantum-encrypted firewall.

As they escorted him out, stripped of his sidearm, my terminal beeped — an urgent encrypted text from my clearance attorney, Rachel Mercer.