“Where?”
Ellis’s expression hardened.
“Places I don’t discuss on a firing line.”
That ended the question.
The woman placed the M110 in its case and began securing each component.
Her calm irritated Kane in a new way now because it made his own earlier behavior look even smaller.
She had not baited him.
She had not revealed her rank to win an argument.
She had simply waited for him to finish exposing himself.
A vehicle rolled to a stop outside the range gate.
Ellis glanced toward it.
Two personnel stepped out.
Neither hurried.
One carried a sealed folder.
Kane’s eyes narrowed.
“Are they with you?”
The woman zipped the rifle case.
“Yes.”
The first visitor approached Ellis, showed credentials too quickly for anyone else to read, and handed him the folder.
Ellis checked the seal and passed it to the commander.
No one could read the material inside from where they stood, and she made no attempt to display it.
She opened it only far enough to verify the first page.
Then she looked at Kane.
“Admiral, were you scheduled to observe this qualification block?”
“No.”
“Then why did you come to the range?”
Kane frowned.
“I was touring training facilities with my officers.”
She glanced at Brooks and the younger lieutenants.
“And this is how you normally conduct those tours?”
Nobody answered.
The question hung there.
Kane’s voice cooled.
“Commander, if you have an accusation to make, make it.”
She closed the folder.
“I don’t need one.”
She handed it back to Ellis.
“I have witnesses.”
That was the first moment Kane looked genuinely unsettled.
He turned slightly and saw what she meant.
Fifteen personnel.
Range instructors.
Enlisted shooters.
Six officers who had been laughing beside him.
A range master who had heard nearly every word.
His own audience had become evidence.
Brooks stepped forward.
“Sir, I’ll take responsibility for my comments.”
Kane looked at him with irritation.
“This is not helping.”
“No, sir,” Brooks said.
“But I said them.”
The commander watched the exchange without satisfaction.
She seemed almost tired.
“This does not need theater,” she said.
“It needs an accurate record.”
