EVELYN CARTER: "Then he should have a clear view."
DANIEL REEVES: "I'll speak with him."
Before Daniel could move, General Harrington approached.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Colonel Carter, I need a word with you."
Evelyn turned toward him.
EVELYN CARTER: "Of course, General."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Let's use the conference room. Captain Reeves, remain here and coordinate with security."
DANIEL REEVES: "Yes, sir."
The general led Evelyn through a side door into a private conference room.
The moment the door closed, the noise from the ceremonial hall became distant.
A large table occupied the center of the room. Several folders had been left beside a wall-mounted screen, and a clock above the door showed that the ceremony had been interrupted for nearly half an hour.
General Harrington remained standing.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Are you absolutely certain you're not injured?"
EVELYN CARTER: "I'm certain, sir."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "You understand that this will become a formal incident."
EVELYN CARTER: "Yes, sir."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "There will be statements, recordings, legal reviews, and probably several people asking questions they have no business asking."
EVELYN CARTER: "I understand."
The general studied her face.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "I want you to know that I witnessed what happened. You did not initiate that confrontation."
Evelyn nodded.
EVELYN CARTER: "Thank you, General."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "But there is something else we need to discuss."
He opened one of the folders on the table.
Inside were several printed pages relating to the procurement review that had brought Evelyn into conflict with Richard.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "You know why Lawson was invited today?"
EVELYN CARTER: "I was told he was attending as a representative of the veterans' foundation."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "That was the official explanation."
EVELYN CARTER: "Was there another reason?"
The general placed a document in front of her.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "His company has been trying to secure a new supply agreement with one of our regional facilities. The contract is worth considerably more than the previous proposal."
Evelyn examined the document.
It contained the name of Richard's company, the estimated contract value, and a list of departments involved in the approval process.
EVELYN CARTER: "I wasn't aware the new proposal had reached this stage."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "It hasn't. Not officially."
EVELYN CARTER: "Then why is his name appearing in the ceremony correspondence?"
The general leaned back.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Because someone recommended that we maintain a good relationship with him."
Evelyn looked up.
EVELYN CARTER: "Who made that recommendation?"
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "The request came through the administrative office."
EVELYN CARTER: "Whose office?"
The general hesitated.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Deputy Director Samuel Price."
Evelyn recognized the name.
Samuel Price was a senior administrative official who had worked with several procurement committees. He had never been directly involved in her field operations, but he had been present during the earlier contract discussions.
EVELYN CARTER: "Did he explain why?"
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "He said Lawson had important connections and that it would be beneficial to avoid unnecessary tension."
EVELYN CARTER: "Avoiding tension is not a procurement standard."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "I know."
Evelyn returned her attention to the document.
The proposal had been submitted by Lawson Strategic Technologies, a company that specialized in communications equipment, surveillance systems, and security hardware.
Several months earlier, the company's equipment had failed a series of independent assessments.
One system had experienced repeated signal interruptions.
Another had failed under simulated extreme weather conditions.
A third had produced inconsistent location data during a field test.
The deficiencies had been serious enough to prevent approval.
Evelyn had been part of the review team that recommended further testing.
The decision had not been personal.
It had been based on documented results.
EVELYN CARTER: "The original report clearly identified the deficiencies."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Yes."
EVELYN CARTER: "Were they corrected?"
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "That is what I want to know."
He opened another folder.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "A revised technical assessment was submitted last week. It states that the equipment has passed the required tests."
Evelyn read the first page.
Her eyes stopped at the signature.
EVELYN CARTER: "Who approved this?"
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "A committee working under the regional procurement office."
EVELYN CARTER: "I recognize the signature, but I wasn't included in the assessment."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "You were not."
Evelyn turned to the second page.
The document claimed that all previously identified defects had been resolved.
However, the report did not include the complete laboratory results, the original test conditions, or the names of the technicians responsible for the final assessment.
EVELYN CARTER: "This is incomplete."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "That was my concern."
EVELYN CARTER: "It doesn't establish that the equipment is safe. It only states that the committee considers the problems resolved."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "And yet the recommendation has already been circulated."
Evelyn placed the pages on the table.
EVELYN CARTER: "Sir, if this equipment is being considered for operational use, we need the full test record."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Agreed."
EVELYN CARTER: "Then the revised approval should be suspended until the supporting evidence is reviewed."
The general nodded slowly.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "That may be difficult."
EVELYN CARTER: "Because of Lawson?"
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "Because several people have already attached their names to the recommendation."
Evelyn looked directly at him.
EVELYN CARTER: "That doesn't make the equipment any safer."
For a moment, neither spoke.
The general closed the folder.
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "I have been in this institution for thirty-two years. I've seen good officers make mistakes, and I've seen civilians become convinced that money gives them a voice in every decision."
EVELYN CARTER: "Then you know why the review cannot be influenced."
GENERAL MICHAEL HARRINGTON: "I do."
He walked toward the window.