She glanced at the paper pass, then at the gold oak leaf on my collar.

“Welcome aboard, Lieutenant Colonel.

Seat 4A is on your left.”

I gave one nod and walked into the quiet aisle of the first-class cabin, past rows of passengers already settling in with blankets and headphones.

The overhead bins were half empty, but I kept my canvas duffel in my hand and slid it under the seat in front of me.

It wedged in snugly between the metal footrests, exact and secure.