My mother-in-law shaved my head while I slept on the very night the United States Army promoted me into one of the most important commands of my career.

the middle.

Price opened it.

Her expression changed.

“What is it?” I asked.

She did not answer immediately.

Instead, she looked past me toward Linda.

“Where did you get these names?”

Linda’s face had gone gray.

“Old friends,” she whispered.

Price turned the ledger so I could see.

The pages were filled with columns: names, dates, payments, favors, outcomes.

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