“Then bringing your girlfriend into my hospital room with a diamond ring was an unusual peace strategy.”
Lauren whispered:
“Daniel, maybe we should go.”
He ignored her.
“There are also financial matters we need to discuss.”
That sentence changed my attention.
“What financial matters?”
Before he could answer, someone knocked.
The door opened.
A nurse stepped aside.
A tall man in Army dress uniform entered.
Three stars rested on his shoulders.
Lieutenant General Malcolm Rhodes.
I immediately straightened.
Daniel stared.
General Rhodes walked to the side of my bed.
Then saluted.
“Lieutenant Colonel Bennett.”
I returned the salute as best I could from a hospital bed.
The general smiled.
“Although I suppose I should stop calling you that.”
He handed me a sealed folder.
“Promotion orders became official this morning.”
My breath caught.
“Sir?”
“Congratulations, Colonel Bennett.”
Daniel’s face changed.
“Colonel?”
General Rhodes continued.
“Your appointment to the Joint Logistics Integrity Command has also been confirmed.”
I stared at the folder.
For almost a year, the assignment had been uncertain.
Now it was real.
General Rhodes extended his hand.
“You earned it.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Then another officer entered behind him carrying flowers from my unit.
Daniel looked as though somebody had rearranged gravity.
“You never told me you were being promoted.”
I looked at him.
“You stopped asking about my career years ago.”
“But Colonel?”
General Rhodes glanced at him.
“Is there a problem?”
Daniel swallowed.
“No, sir.”
Then the general’s eyes shifted to Lauren.
Something changed.
“Ms. Cross?”
Lauren froze.
“You two know each other?” Daniel asked.
General Rhodes did not answer him.
Instead he looked directly at Lauren.
“Lauren Cross. Lawson Strategic Solutions?”
Her face went pale.
“Yes, sir.”
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
General Rhodes slowly looked at him.
“Lawson Strategic Solutions is currently bidding as a subcontractor on a federal logistics modernization project.”
Daniel’s confidence disappeared.
General Rhodes continued.
“My command is responsible for oversight integrity on that procurement.”
Silence.
I looked at Daniel.
Then Lauren.
Then at the ring.
And for the first time, I saw fear in both of them.
Not embarrassment.
Fear.
General Rhodes noticed.
“Colonel Bennett,” he said carefully, “are you financially involved with Lawson Strategic Solutions?”
“No.”
“Have you ever advised the company?”
“No.”
“Authorized the company to use your military title?”
My stomach tightened.
“No.”
Daniel immediately interrupted.
“Wait.”
General Rhodes looked at him.
Daniel’s voice changed.
