A few Marines straightened instinctively.
Others looked at Crawford.
The discomfort had shifted directions.
The humiliation he had tried to impose on Jessica now settled over him.
Jessica did not smile.
That made it worse.
Crawford recovered enough to speak.
“You should’ve identified yourself.”
Jessica answered, “I did.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“I told you my rank was inside my patrol cap.”
“You refused to show ID.”
“To you.”
“That’s insubordination.”
Jessica’s gaze hardened.
“No.”
The word landed heavily.
Crawford seemed to realize what he had just said.
A captain accusing a major of insubordination.
Several Marines looked away.
One pressed his lips together.
Crawford’s face darkened.
“You intentionally created this situation.”
Jessica stared at him.
“You grabbed me.”
“I thought you were impersonating military personnel.”
“You thought that after I told you I was an officer.”
“You had no visible rank.”
“I was a guest at a memorial ceremony.”
