The older investigator, a square-jawed woman with silver threaded through her dark hair, stepped forward.
“Colonel Daniel Reynolds?”
Daniel straightened instinctively. Years of command returned to his shoulders even as his face remained pale.
“Yes.”
“I’m Special Investigator Marlowe. This is Investigator Haines. We need to ask you several questions regarding the disappearance of funds from the Lone Star Veterans Relief Foundation.”
A different silence fell.
The first silence had been shock.
This one was fear.
Daniel’s father pushed back his chair. “What are you talking about?”
Marlowe did not look at him. Her eyes stayed on Daniel.
“The foundation received multiple federal and state grants between 2019 and 2023. We have reason to believe portions of those funds were diverted into private accounts and shell entities connected to Colonel Reynolds.”
Daniel gave a hard, sharp laugh, the kind of laugh men use when they are trying to convince a room before they convince themselves.
