Chapter 4 - The Orchestra Dies Out In Absolute Silence
The orchestra on the raised stage near the far wall finally gave up on trying to play through the rising drama.
The conductor lowered his baton, turning around to join the rest of the musicians in staring open-mouthed at Table Seven.
Nearly four hundred military officers, civilian dignitaries, and high-ranking defense contractors were now watching us in total silence.
The ballroom of the historic Virginia hotel, usually filled with laughter, toasts, and brass music, had become a quiet courtroom.
General Caldwell handed my black credential holder back to me with a brief, respectful nod of his head.
“Inspector General Vance,” Caldwell said, addressing me formally in front of the entire assembly.
“I apologize profusely for the disrespect shown to you by personnel under my command tonight.”
“The seating arrangements for this official ball were managed by the auxiliary social committee.”
He turned his head slowly to glare at Evelyn, who looked as if she wished the floor would swallow her alive.
“I will personally ensure an administrative inquiry is launched into who tampered with official event rosters,” Caldwell added.
Evelyn swallowed hard, her mouth completely dry as the reality of a federal investigation into her petty actions sank in.
Tampering with official military function documentation was a direct violation of base installation regulations.
She had treated the military ball like a high-society country club event where she could play social politics without consequences.
Now, she was realizing that the military was a legal machine that didn't care about her pearls, her silk dress, or her family name.
Ethan reached out again, his hand shaking as he tried to grasp my fingers across the tablecloth.
“Mara, please... let’s step outside into the hallway and talk about this privately,” Ethan begged, his eyes shiny with unshed tears.
“There are people watching... my whole unit is here.”
I looked down at his trembling hand, then looked back up into his desperate blue eyes.
May you like
“You didn't care who was watching when you walked Audrey through the receiving line while I sat without a chair, Ethan,” I said.
“You were perfectly fine with public embarrassment when you thought I was the one swallowing the humiliation.”
Related Stories
