He put his glasses back on and studied me for three long seconds without speaking.

“The joint commissioning address goes ahead as scheduled tomorrow at fourteen hundred hours.”

“Understood, sir,” I said.

“A good officer learns early where to put her trust,” Vance said quietly before moving down the line toward the next officer.

I stayed at attention while the battalion commander finished roll call under the spring sun.

By eight that evening, the sun had gone down behind the Hudson Highlands, leaving the townhouse kitchen in pale gray shadow.

A cold mug of black coffee sat on the counter next to a yellow legal pad full of draft notes for tomorrow’s drill schedule.