Chapter 17 - Lena Leaves Her Family Stranded With The Bill
Ten thousand feet above the Atlantic Ocean, I sat at the head of the polished conference table inside the Gulfstream jet.
Surrounded by secure satellite monitors and senior intelligence analysts, I was completely locked into my work.
The crisis near Norfolk had been successfully de-escalated thanks to the rapid deployment protocols I had authorized hours earlier.
The threat had been neutralized, the perimeter was secured, and the Department of Defense was back at normal readiness.
General Vance stepped into the conference suite, holding a mug of steaming black coffee which he set gently on my desk.
“Operations are back to green status, General,” Vance reported calmly.
“Good work, Thomas,” I replied, taking a sip of the coffee.
“Have you reviewed the personal administrative updates from last night?” Vance asked cautiously, picking his timing carefully.
“I processed the emergency contact roster changes as requested, but your sister’s battalion commander called my office asking for leniency.”
I set my coffee mug down, looking up at Vance with an unreadable expression on my face.
“Did I order the battalion commander to discipline her?” I asked softly.
“No, Ma’am,” Vance admitted.
“He acted on his own initiative after reviewing the security logs from the restaurant detail.”
“Then let the system work, Thomas,” I decided firmly.
May you like
“Melissa needs to learn that uniform bars don't make you untouchable.”
“She made her choices, and now she has to manage the consequences, just like everyone else.”
