Just as my finger hovered over the key, a red alert slashed across the screen.

ALERT: Subject THORNE, Daniel has lobbied civilian liaison to advance final contract signing. Meeting rescheduled. Status: Critical.

My blood ran cold. Daniel had bribed a weak civilian liaison to move the closing meeting up a full week — tomorrow at 0800.

If he signed on federal property, the transfer would begin clearing before the holds could be enforced, and he’d have the window he needed to launder the money and vanish.

I had one night to get my children into a classified safe house, retrieve my Class-A uniform from storage, and intercept him before he became untouchable.

Chapter 6 — The Signing

The mahogany table in the Pentagon Annex conference room gleamed under recessed lighting — a room built for brokering power, smelling of lemon polish, leather, and quiet intimidation.