The weight of it settled over the room like a physical thing. This was too large, too consequential for anyone beneath the highest authority to decide. Cliff Crawford knew it, and so did Ambrose Ward.
Secretary Bell stood motionless behind his desk for a long moment, his jaw tight. Then he exhaled through his nose and waved them toward the door. "Both of you, step out. I need to contact the senior leadership and brief them on what we've found."
Even a man of Donovan Bell's rank could not make this call alone. The implications reached far beyond his authority, and he knew better than to overstep.
Cliff and Ambrose nodded without a word. Ambrose rose first, pulling the door shut behind them with quiet precision, careful not to let the latch click too loudly. The corridor outside was empty
