The smell of roasted coffee and fried bacon hung in the warm air.

Rain hammered the big front windows, smearing the streetlights outside.

Captain Thomas sat in a corner booth by the kitchen door.

He was in his utility uniform and cradled a thick white ceramic mug in both hands.

I slid onto the red vinyl seat across from him.

“Thanks for meeting me off base.”

“Your division transfer showed up on the command roster this morning,” Thomas said.

“Congratulations on the promotion board.”