“Do you have proof of any of this?” Elliott asked. “That there are people manufacturing this drug, giving it to unsuspecting vets, then falsifying the results?”

“No.” Max pulled to a stop and met each agent’s eyes one by one. “And that’s why I’m a dead man living in a hospital, who was praying I wouldn’t get caught before I could find that proof.”

Trailed by Asher and Travis, Gavin and Sarah strode down the now familiar hallway while Sarah texted Caden that they were there. She looked up from her phone. “He said to meet him in front of the second-floor conference room.”

Five minutes later, Caden stepped out of the room, pulling the door shut behind him. “The detectives are just finishing up questioning Max and will escort him to a safe house while they investigate his story further. What did you have?”

Sarah shook her head and pulled the sleeves of her sweatshirt over her hands. “This is going to take longer than a step-out-of-the-room conversation. We need a place to sit down so I can show you some stuff.” She gestured to the manila envelope.

Caden raised a brow. “All right. Hang tight for a few minutes and let me see what I can arrange.” He disappeared back into the room, only to reemerge thirty seconds later. “Looks like they’ve got what they need and will be leaving shortly. Can you give us five minutes?”

“Of course,” Sarah said.

Gavin’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and frowned. And hung up on the caller.

“You need to get that?” Sarah asked.

“I’ll call him back in a few minutes.”

His phone buzzed again. Again, he disconnected the call.

“All of your workers are hanging out around us. How in the world can a business survive that?”

He smiled and glanced at Travis. “I’m just following orders.”

Travis nodded. “Don’t worry. It’s all under control. I promise.”

She studied him for a moment. “If you say so.”

Gavin’s phone vibrated for the third time. This time, a text. He glanced at the screen.

Call me ASAP.

From the general.

The door opened. “I’m just going to stay here and return the call while you talk to Caden,” Gavin said. “You don’t need me for that.”

Sarah nodded and slipped into the room, followed by Asher.

Travis held back. “Anything you need me to do?”

“Just keep an eye on her. No one gets close to her, got it?”

“Got it.”

Gavin pressed the button that would return the general’s call. Halfway through the first ring, the man answered. “Don’t—”

A scuffle? Something in the background.

“General Denning?”

“I should have known you wouldn’t cooperate.”

Gavin straightened, his heart picking up speed. “Hello?”

“Put it on FaceTime.” Gavin didn’t recognize the voice but obeyed.

The screen popped up and Gavin blew out a low breath. “Oh boy.”