During cross-examination, Reynolds asked Richard one final question.
“Did you personally speak with Captain Vance before Checkpoint Echo fell?”
Something tightened around Richard’s eyes.
“No.”
Claire felt her pulse slow.
That was the lie.
The one she had been waiting for.
As Richard stepped down, Claire lowered her eyes toward her right boot.
Her shackled hands moved beneath the table.
“Captain Vance,” Judge Harrison said sharply, “what are you doing?”
Claire hooked two fingers beneath the inner seam.
Across the courtroom, Richard stopped walking.
The color drained from his face.
And Claire began pulling out the flash drive Miller had died protecting. 👇
The flash drive was smaller than Claire remembered.
Black plastic. Scratched edge. A strip of gray tape wrapped around one side where Sergeant Miller had sealed it inside the lining of her boot.
The courtroom went silent.
General Richard Vance did not move.
That frightened Claire more than panic would have.
Judge Harrison leaned forward.
“Captain Vance, place the object on defense counsel’s table and remove your hands from it.”
Claire obeyed.
Major Reynolds stared at the drive.
“What is that?”
“The missing forty-five seconds.”
Richard found his voice.
“Your Honor, that device may contain compartmented material. It cannot be introduced in an open courtroom.”
Claire looked at him.
There it was.
Not denial.
