“Not yet,” Sarah said.

“I wanted to wait until the brass was official.”

Rachel took a sip of her water and smiled at my friend.

Then her gaze moved past Sarah’s shoulder, and the warmth drained out of her face.

“They followed the crowd out of the auditorium,” Rachel said quietly.

I turned around slowly.

Linda and Richard stood near a tall marble pillar, hovering just outside the circle of celebrating cadets.

Linda smoothed the front of her silk blouse twice before taking a hesitant step toward me.