*THE WOMAN EVERYONE MOCKED—UNTIL THE COLONEL SAW HER NAME**

*THE WOMAN EVERYONE MOCKED—UNTIL THE COLONEL SAW HER NAME** The entire Texas training yard was laughing when the woman dropped the rifle. Not because she was weak. Because everyone thought she had failed. Emily Carter stood frozen beside the shooting bench as the rifle struck the dirt at her feet. A tall officer stepped forward, his expression cold. “Careless,” Colonel James Walker said. Emily looked down at the weapon. “I didn’t drop it.” Walker raised an eyebrow. “You expect me to believe that?” Emily slowly looked at him. “Yes.” The soldiers behind him laughed. One whispered, “She’s got some nerve.” Another said, “Probably never held a rifle before.” Emily heard every word. She said nothing. Walker picked up the rifle and examined it. “Do you know how much this equipment costs?” “No, sir.” “Then perhaps you should stop touching things you don't understand.” Emily's jaw tightened. “I understand exactly what happened.” Walker smiled. “Really?” “The firing pin was already damaged.” The laughter stopped for a moment. Walker stared at her. Then he chuckled. “You're telling me you can diagnose a military rifle by dropping it?” “No.” Emily pointed toward the weapon. “I’m telling you it was damaged before I touched it.” A captain laughed. “Colonel, she's making excuses.” Emily turned toward him. “Then fire it.” The captain's smile disappeared. Walker stepped closer. “You're challenging me?” “No, sir.” Emily's voice remained calm. “I'm warning you.” That sentence changed everything. Walker stared at her for several seconds. Then he handed the rifle to a young soldier. “Load it.” Emily immediately stepped forward. “Don't.” The soldier froze. Walker snapped, “Do it.” Emily looked directly at him. “If you pull that trigger, the bolt may fracture.” The colonel's face hardened. “You're dismissed.” Emily didn't move. “Sir—” “Leave.” She slowly removed the identification badge hanging beneath her jacket. Then she placed it on the shooting bench. Walker glanced down. His expression changed. The badge wasn't military. It carried a federal seal. He picked it up. His eyes moved across the name. **EMILY CARTER — BALLISTICS INVESTIGATION UNIT** The laughter behind him vanished. Walker looked up. “You're an investigator?” Emily nodded. “Sent here three days ago.” The captain swallowed. “Why weren't we told?” “Because someone requested that I arrive quietly.” Walker stared at her. “Who?” Emily reached into her jacket and pulled out a folder. She placed it on the bench. “Your commanding officer.” Walker opened it. His eyes moved across the first page. Then the second. Then the photographs. His face slowly lost its color. “What is this?” Emily answered quietly. “Four failed weapons tests.” Walker looked at her. “All four rifles came from this facility.” “Yes.” “And you think they're defective?” Emily shook her head. “No.” She opened the folder to the final photograph. “They were sabotaged.” Silence swallowed the entire yard. The captain stepped forward. “That's impossible.” Emily looked at him. “Is it?” She pointed toward the rifle. “Because the same person altered all four.” Walker stared at the weapon in his hands. “Who?” Emily didn't answer. Instead, she looked toward the line of officers standing behind him. Her eyes stopped on one man. The range supervisor. He suddenly took a step backward. Emily noticed. So did Walker. “Sergeant,” Walker said slowly. The man froze. “Yes, sir?” “Come here.” He didn't move. Emily whispered, “Don't.” Walker turned toward her. “Why?” Emily's voice dropped. “Because he isn't the person who sabotaged the rifles.” Walker frowned. “Then why are you looking at him?” Emily looked toward the supervisor. “Because he knows who did.” The man's face went white. Suddenly, a gunshot cracked across the yard. Everyone ducked. Emily didn't. She stared toward the watchtower. Walker grabbed her arm. “Get down!” Emily pulled free. “Colonel, listen to me.” Another shot struck the metal bench beside them. Emily looked at the fresh bullet hole. Then she whispered the words that made Walker's blood run cold. “They aren't trying to kill me.” Walker stared at her. “Then who?” Emily looked at the officers surrounding them. “They're trying to stop me from telling you which one of your men is working for them.” And then the lights across the training yard suddenly went out. Every gate slammed shut. The soldiers reached for their weapons. Emily looked at Walker. “Now,” she whispered, “we find out who locked us in.”