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CHAPTER

1

H olly Barker, with the rest of the croas called to her feet as the panel of officers filed into the courtrooer a witness, but she wanted to be here for this

Colonel James Bruno stood at the defe

nse table, raes with beady eyes For the first ti

“Seats!” the clerk of the court called out, and all sat

The brigadier general, as president of the court, cleared his throat “The following three verdicts have been reached unanie, sexual harassuilty”

Holly’s stomach shrank into a knot She locked her knees so that they would not buckle She knehat could only come next

“As to the second charge, atteeneral said “And as to the third charge, conduct unbecouilty”

“Yes!” screamed a woman in the front row

Holly recognized her as Colonel Bruno’s wife It was the first time she had appeared in court

“Colonel Bruno,” the general said, “you are restored to duty This court is adjourned”

Hollythe reporters ere de her reaction to the verdict On her way she ca blond lieutenant who had been the other complainant in the case Holly found her hand and squeezed The woman was in tears

The cold outside air struck like a slap, reviving her, and she saw her father’s car at the curb She got in beside him

“I’eant’s uniforreen beret of the special forces

“You knew, didn’t you?” she asked

Hamilton Barker nodded “It was in the cards,” he said “It was Bruno’s word against yours He’s a West Pointer, and so wereto destroy his career”

“They’ve destroyed old oak leaf on her left shoulder out of the corner of her eye

“You can request a transfer, and they can’t deny it,” her father said

“Coet it I’d end up in some unit commanded by a classmate of Bruno’s, and I’d be repeatedly passed over for promotion on some pretext or other”