Chapter 11: The Board

The garrison conference room had a long oak table and a portrait of a general nobody remembered.

I sat in the last chair by the door, in the one clean blouse I owned.

A clerk had walked me in at five to eight with a visitor's badge clipped to my collar.

Isaiah sat alone on one side of the table, in dress greens, with his hands folded.

He had not looked at me once.

Across from him sat three officers.

Colonel Redfern was in the center.

He had a folder open in front of him and a little silver pen in his hand.

"This board is convened," he said, "to review Chief Warrant Officer Doran's conduct on the Tolliver matter."

Nobody breathed.

"Mr. Doran. You were relieved of the file. Did you retain a copy?"

"I did, sir."

"And you gave it to a civilian."

"I gave it to a witness."

"Ms. Burris is the daughter of the convicted man."

"She's also the officer who testified against him, sir."

A younger officer on the colonel's left shifted in his chair.

Redfern didn't blink.

"Are you in a personal relationship with Ms. Burris?"

"Yes, sir."

"You've been seen at her residence on several nights."

"I won't deny that."

"Then you'll agree this is a conflict of interest."

"I'd agree it's a fact," Isaiah said. "I don't agree it's a conflict."

"Explain."

"A conflict means I'd benefit from changing the facts. I haven't changed any."

The younger officer wrote something down.

The colonel's smile didn't move.

"Mr. Doran. You were told to hand over every document, photograph and note on this matter."

"Yes, sir."

"Do you have any such materials with you?"

I felt my phone in my vest pocket, against my ribs.

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