CHAPTER 1: THE SILENT SENTINEL The sun has a way of lying to you in Ashefield. It rises pretty, spilling that soft, honeyed…

The names were a sea of black granite, polished to a mirror finish. They reflected the bright, indifferent California sun, but all I…

Chapter 1: The Invisible Mechanic The afternoon heat in the Mojave was a physical presence, a weight that pressed down on the corrugated…

PART 1 CHAPTER 1: THE MASQUERADE “A woman? Seriously? They are sending Barbie to do a man’s job?” Chief Marcus Turner’s voice cut…

PART 1 CHAPTER 1: THE MASQUERADE “A woman? Seriously? They are sending Barbie to do a man’s job?” Chief Marcus Turner’s voice cut…

PART 1 Chapter 1 The rubber soles of my shoes squeaked against the polished concrete. That was the only sound I allowed myself…

Part 1 Do you mind? Some of us are trying to win a war here. The voice was sharp, sterile, and cold—matching the…

PART 1 CHAPTER 1 The dining hall on Thursdays always smelled the same: overcooked green beans, floor wax, and the metallic tang of…

PART 1 Chapter 1: The Ghost in the Machine The mess hall at Camp Pendleton at 0600 hours is less of a dining…

Chapter 1: The Golden Cage I needed the money. That’s the only reason I took the job. Six months of unemployment in Los…