He stood by his car, holding his Audi key ring perfectly still between his thumb and forefinger.

The driver’s door of the lead vehicle swung open, and Captain Robert Keller stepped down onto the gravel.

He was in his service dress uniform, standing ramrod straight as he settled his cap.

He walked right past Julian without turning his head.

I came out from the side of the garage with my small dark travel bag in my left hand.

Captain Keller stopped two paces in front of me on the frozen lawn.