Crawford straightened.
“Ma’am, this is a military matter.”
“She told you to let go.”
“Your daughter is impersonating military personnel.”
Patricia stopped.
She stared at him.
Then she looked at Jessica.
Jessica gave the smallest shake of her head.
Not yet.
Patricia understood.
She always had.
Years of not knowing where Jessica deployed had taught her how to read fragments.
A glance.
A pause.
A silence that meant more than explanation.
So Patricia stopped where she was.
Crawford noticed the exchange.
He misunderstood it completely.
He smiled.
“See that?”
He turned slightly toward the Marines.
“Even her mother knows she’s in trouble.”
A murmur passed through the people nearest them.
Jessica heard it.
So did Patricia.
Her mother’s face tightened with anger.
Jessica stayed calm.
That calm was beginning to irritate Crawford almost as much as her refusal.
He squeezed again.
“You want to play soldier?”
Jessica’s eyes did not move.
