"Sir..." Ryan stammered, his voice climbing an octave as he tried to slide past one of the MPs. "This is a domestic matter. You can't just bring the military into my home. There are civilian laws. Emily fell! She’s clumsy because of the weight, I swear to you—"
"Silence," Colonel Bennett said.
The word wasn't roared. It was delivered in a deadly, low-frequency vibration that instantly paralyzed the room. Ryan choked on his own breath, his mouth hanging open like a landed fish. Linda, attempting to muster whatever suburban audacity she had left, pushed her way forward.