“Private,” she said, and Salas was gone before the word had finished landing.

She sat down without being asked, set the wire-rimmed glasses on my desk, and folded her hands on top of them.

“I’ll say this once, Sergeant.

I want you in the operations section at headquarters.

A desk, a phone, and a major who owes me a favor.

Monday.”

“No, General.”

She did not move.