Chapter 3 - THE RECKONING AT THE BARBack in the glittering ballroom of the Officers Club, Robert was sweating through his tuxedo shirt.
"Command?" Robert squeaked, his hand finally dropping off my shoulder as if my blouse had suddenly turned red-hot. "James, you’re losing your mind. She’s a clerk! She’s twenty-eight years old! She pushes papers around a desk!"
Colonel Carter slowly lowered his hand from his salute, turning his gaze from me to my uncle. The look in the veteran's eyes was cold enough to freeze nitrogen.
"Robert," Colonel Carter said quietly, "are you telling me you have no idea what your niece's security clearance is?"
"She's a glorified secretary!" Robert barked, trying desperately to rally the fading laughter of the surrounding guests, though none of them were smiling anymore. "She works in supply logistics! Right, Lillian? Tell these gentlemen you're just doing clerical entry work!"
I slowly stepped forward, smoothing down the lapel of my blouse. The plain black fabric suddenly looked less like civilian wear and more like a tactical uniform once my posture shifted.
"Uncle Robert," I said, my voice carrying a quiet, razor-sharp edge that cut through the cavernous room. "When was the last time you read your own company’s federal compliance audits?"
Robert blinked, taken aback. "What? What does my firm have to do with this? We build logistical components for the Navy!"
"You did build components for the Navy," I corrected softly. "Until twenty minutes ago."
Before Robert could demand an explanation, my secure encrypted phone buzzed sharply inside my pocket. I slipped it out, tapping the biometric screen. A flashing red confirmation box blinked on the OLED display.
May you like
“Asset freeze and federal compliance seizure initiated across all subsidiaries of Hayes Logistics & Engineering. Authorization code verified: Phoenix One-Alpha.”
I locked the phone and slid it back into my slacks pocket.
