General Sawyer says, “All right, we’ll begin this…session. Now that Captain Cornwall has joined us, I’ll remind everyone again in this room that there’s to be no recording, note taking, or any other official record of what transpires here. Am I clear?”

The only person who says anything is Cornwall, who nods and says, “I understand, ma’am.”

Sawyer says, “Again, I want to remind you, Captain Cornwall, that you are appearing here by yourself, without counsel, and that you agree to this…circumstance.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Sawyer clasps her hands and says to her fellow JAG officer, “Colonel Patrick, let’s begin with the narrative and list of particulars.”

Colonel Patrick starts reading from several sheets of paper, and the room is so silent that Wenner can hear the traffic outside and the overhead thrum of a helicopter. At each pause in the narration, General Sawyer looks to the captain and says, “Is that true, Captain?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The list of particulars goes on and on—assaulting a Tennessee state trooper, stealing license plates, crossing state lines for the purpose of committing offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and then, the first big one.

“In the town of Three Rivers, Texas, that you shot and killed Ramon Hernandez, a citizen of Mexico.”

“Yes, sir, that’s correct.”

“In the town of Three Rivers, Texas, that you shot and killed Pepe Torres, a citizen of Mexico.”

“Yes, sir, that’s correct.”

“In the town of Three Rivers, Texas, that you kidnapped Javier Abboud, a citizen of Mexico.”

“That’s correct, sir,” she says again, in the same flat tone of voice.

“That you did transport Javier Abboud across state lines.”

“That’s correct, sir.”

“That at the public library in Victoria, Texas, you did assault Special Agent Rosaria Vasquez of the CID.”

Only then is there a change, as Cornwall’s voice seems to catch, and then she says, “That’s correct, sir.”

The long list of particulars then finally ends five minutes later, in Beachside, Florida, where it is charged that Captain Amy Cornwall illegally fired a nonregistered weapon within the city limits.

“Yes, that’s correct,” she says.

“And finally,” Colonel Patrick says, “while these alleged offenses were taking place, you, Captain Amy Cornwall, were absent without leave.”

Cornwall changes her response and says, “Well, that’s pretty damn self-evident, isn’t it?”

The civilian men smile, but the Army side of the table is not amused. General Sawyer says, “Captain Cornwall, these are incredibly serious charges. I appreciate your willingness to come forward and accept your responsibility…but this is highly unusual.”

Cornwall says, “Ma’am, it certainly is highly unusual. And I thank you and Colonel Denton for arranging this session. Now, may I ask your indulgence to speak for five minutes?”

General Sawyer says, “Colonel Denton, do you mind?”

His fists are clenched on the table. “No,” he finally says. “Not at all.”

“Good,” Sawyer says. “Captain Cornwall, proceed…and I hope you choose your words carefully, because at this moment, you’re looking at a life sentence in Leavenworth. Do you understand?”