“Ma’am,” Mason said, his eyes fixed straight ahead on the wall calendar.

“How long have you and Lance Corporal Carter served in the same squad?” I asked.

“Fourteen months, ma’am.

Ever since we finished infantry training at Camp Lejeune.”

“Is this kind of behavior normal for him?”

Mason hesitated, and his hand slid down to his uniform seam.

“No, ma’am,” Mason said quietly.

“Evan’s loud, but he usually knows where the line is.”