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Talia leaned in over my shoulder again. “What?”

“This packet was touched by internal architecture.”

“Veil?”

“Yes.”

She came closer, her shoulder nearly brushing mine as she studied the marker. “So whoever changed it was inside.”

“Or had access equivalent to inside.”

“That feels like splitting hairs.”

“It matters.”

My voice came out sharper than I intended.

Talia looked at me.

For a moment I expected an argument.

Instead, her expression softened. “Does it?”

“Yes.”

She held my gaze another second. Then nodded. “Okay.”

No challenge. No sarcasm. Just trust that I understood the distinction.

That affected me more than it should have.

I turned back to the packet.

The checksum sequence told the rest.

Threat classification inserted first. Evidence added later. Termination authority added after that.

The order had not followed evidence. The evidence had followed the order.

Talia’s hand settled on the table beside mine. Not touching. Close enough that I noticed anyway.

“You’re angry.”

“Yes.”

“Because they framed me.”

I looked at her. “Yes.”

Her expression changed slightly.

“Only because the order was false?”

The question landed differently.

I turned back to the screen. “The order was manufactured.”

“I know.”