A month had passed since the catastrophic explosion of the USS Maine in the harbor of Havana. The time for excuses had run out.
President William McKinley, the twenty-fifth leader of the United States, sat in his study, his gaze heavy with expectation as he addressed his chief investigator.
"Denzel, the investigation. Bring me the results."
The investigator hesitated, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. "Mr. President, the investigation has concluded. But the results are... inconclusive."
McKinley's expression darkened. "Inconclusive? That is not what I ordered, Denzel. This investigation was placed in your hands. It is your duty to deliver the result we require."
The explosion had been scrutinized four times, and yet each inquiry yielded a different conclusion. Some reports claimed evidence of an external attack—an explosive charge tearing through the ship's hull. Others suggested mechanical failure, a tragic accident of overheating boilers.
