“Already done.”
Three days later, I returned to the house with deputies and a court order to collect my property.
In the linen closet, beneath Marjorie’s perfectly folded towels, deputies found a hidden signal booster and another drive.
That drive contained hundreds of practice versions of my signature.
It also contained files on at least four other women.
One was a widow named Ruth Calder, who lost her home after granting financial control to a man connected to Marjorie.
Another was Jenna Vale, whose insurance settlement disappeared after a relationship with a man calling himself Nolan Voss.
The third was Captain Lyra Mason.
I recognized her photograph.
Years earlier, military circles had whispered that Lyra resigned because she could not handle pressure.
Then she vanished.
She was the missing woman.
My assumption-of-command ceremony was scheduled for Friday.
General Vale offered leave.
Lenora advised postponement.
I refused both.
On Friday morning, I aligned my ribbons, polished my shoes, centered the silver eagles, and wore no wig.
