The instinctive response from Marines around her.
His confidence flickered again.
He covered it with anger.
“Who exactly are you?”
Jessica answered, “Someone who asked you to let go.”
He searched her face.
She could almost see him replaying the last several minutes.
Her diction.
Her posture.
Her refusal to explain herself.
Her knowledge of regulation.
Her lack of reaction to intimidation.
For the first time, doubt began catching up with him.
But pride still outran it.
“You’re bluffing,” he said.
Jessica did not answer.
Crawford turned toward the coordinator.
“Get security.”
The coordinator hesitated.
Jessica said, “That might be wise.”
Crawford glanced at her.
“You think that helps you?”
“Yes.”
His expression tightened.
“Why?”
“You’ll understand.”
Patricia exhaled slowly.
She knew that tone.
Jessica had used it once when a contractor tried arguing with an airline employee after a delayed military connection.
She had used it when a drunk driver nearly backed into them outside a grocery store.
