“This is General Kate, the senior Army officer overseeing the independent review connected to the Mercer Defense Tech proposal.”
Silence.
Evelyn’s fingers moved to her pearl.
Trevor looked at Arthur.
Arthur looked at me.
The same uniform he had grabbed at the gate now carried a rank he had never bothered to understand.
Vance offered his hand.
I took it.
Arthur recovered quickly.
“General Vance.
I wasn’t aware Kate was assigned to the reception.”
“She wasn’t assigned to watch the door.”
That sentence landed quietly.
Arthur smiled.
Evelyn said:
“We’ve always been very proud of Kate’s service.”
The word always stayed in the air.
Arthur tried another direction.