Chapter 6

The gala had completely emptied by midnight. The waiters were clearing the tables, folding the white cloths, collecting the wine glasses. The string quartet had packed their instruments and gone home. The ballroom lights had been dimmed to a soft amber glow, enough to see by, too little to be comfortable.

Kessler had not moved from her seat at the center table. The letter lay before her, flat and smooth. The portrait of Daniel Voss stood at its center, still watching. The tablet was face-down beside the sealed review folder.

Reyes had called his team twice. The server was secure. The motion was filed. The hearing was Monday morning.

And yet.

Alvarez had left an hour ago, after confirming that the protective order had been entered into the court docket and that Drake's access to the evidence would require a formal request through legal channels. She had taken a copy of the letter with her, for safekeeping in the JAG office vault.

Brandt had stayed, pacing the edge of the ballroom, checking his phone every few minutes. He had contacts in the Pentagon, a network of retired officers and active-duty administrators who owed him favors. He had already made three calls, each one brief and cryptic.

"There's nothing leaving the building tonight," he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "I have a friend in the records office. Drake's access code was flagged two hours ago. If he tries to open a file, the system will log it and alert the IG."

"They'll alert the IG," Kessler repeated. "But the IG works for the Army. And the Army has no interest in a scandal three years dead."

Brandt's jaw tightened. "The IG is clean, Admiral. I know the woman running it."

"Clean today."

"It's the best we can do tonight."

Kessler let out a long, slow breath. She looked at the letter again, reading it for the fifth time, letting the words sink in.

"I believe the route is compromised and my platoon is being sent into an ambush."

Daniel had known. He had known, and he had written it down, and he had sent it to the two offices that had the power to stop it. And then he had put on his gear and climbed into the lead vehicle and driven his platoon into the pass.