Now General Prescott stood on that stage, waiting.
I stopped beside her and saluted.
She returned it.
“Captain Monroe,” she said quietly.
“General.”
Jason cleared his throat.
It was the first sound he had made since my name was announced.
“General Prescott,” he said, forcing a controlled smile, “with respect, I was not informed that Captain Monroe would be participating in today’s ceremony.”
“No,” General Prescott replied. “You were not.”
The microphone was close enough to catch part of it.
Not everything.
Just enough.
A faint murmur moved through the crowd.
Jason’s smile tightened.
Madison stood fully now.
“Jason?” she called.
Her voice carried farther than she meant it to.
Several heads turned toward her.
Jason did not answer.
That silence told her more than any explanation could have.
The master of ceremonies looked toward General Prescott, waiting for instruction. She gave the smallest nod.
The ceremony continued.
