Colonel Marcus Kane did not answer.
For the first time since Elena had entered the cafeteria, he looked uncertain.
Not embarrassed.
Not angry.
Uncertain.
That interested her.
Elena turned toward Private Noah Reed.
“Are you injured?”
Noah hesitated.
Restaurants
“No, ma’am.”
Kane immediately spoke.
“He’s fine.”
Elena looked at him.
“I asked Private Reed.”
Kane closed his mouth.
Noah swallowed.
“My collar’s torn.”
“Anything else?”
His eyes moved toward Kane.
That movement told Elena enough.
“Private.”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Look at me.”
He did.
“Anything else?”
Noah’s voice dropped.
“My shoulder.”
The room seemed to tighten.
Elena glanced at the way he was holding his left arm.
“Medical?”
Noah shook his head quickly.
“I don’t need—”
“That wasn’t the question.”
He looked down.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Elena turned toward a nearby captain.
“Get a medic.”
Kane stepped forward.
“General, with respect, this is being blown out of proportion.”
Elena looked at him.
“General.”
The word spread through the room like electricity.
Several soldiers exchanged glances.
Kane seemed to realize what he had said.
Elena’s expression remained calm.
“So now you know.”
He straightened.
“Ma’am, I apologize for not recognizing you.”
“That isn’t what concerns me.”
Kane’s jaw tightened.
Elena pointed toward Noah.
“You put your hands on a private in the middle of a cafeteria.”
“He was disrespectful.”
“Was he?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
Kane hesitated.
Noah answered.
“He said I needed to sign a maintenance statement.”
Elena turned toward him.
“What statement?”
Noah looked nervous again.
Kane cut in.
“Administrative issue.”
Elena’s eyes moved back to Kane.
“You’re doing it again.”
“Ma’am?”
“Answering for him.”
Silence.
She turned to Noah.
“What statement?”
Noah slowly reached inside his uniform pocket.
Kane moved.
Fast.
“Don’t.”
The entire room froze.
Elena saw it clearly.
Not anger.
Fear.
Noah’s hand stopped.
Elena looked at Kane.
“Interesting.”
Kane’s face hardened.
“That document is controlled.”
