A thick manila folder lay squarely in the middle of his green desk blotter.

I stood at attention until he motioned me into the leather guest chair.

I set my faded blue folder on the floor next to my boot.

“The Inspector General sent the final report over at 0730 hours,” Thomas said.

He opened his manila folder and turned the top page around to face me.

It was a formal declaration from the Department of Defense.

“Your security clearance is completely intact,” he said.