The hangar fell silent.
Not the ordinary kind of silence.
The kind that makes your stomach tighten.
The kind where every person in the room suddenly realizes something is very, very wrong.
Behind me, the helicopter’s engine cooled with a series of metallic clicks.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Like a countdown.
Commander Voss took a slow step forward. The folder in his hand slipped slightly.
His face had gone pale.
“Everyone out,” he ordered.
Sergeant Kane laughed.
A short, arrogant laugh.
“Sir, with all due respect, this woman is under investigation.”
Voss didn’t even glance at him.
His eyes stayed fixed on me.
“I said everyone out.”
Nobody moved.
