Swanson said, “Going for that third rocker, are you?”
“I want it.I need it,” Jerry grinned.“The SFC rank is just so unbalanced with three up and two down.Now, the Master Sergeant rank… that three up three down?The only thing more perfect is to slap a diamond right in the bullseye.”
Fisher glanced up from his screen only briefly.“Private sector is on my list in seven more years.Oh, you little…” he started typing furiously.“Ah-ha!”He ripped his hat off and pointed at someone across the wide promenade.“Got you, Heisman!”
A dark-haired and very tall, very blond, and very muscular man stood and strolled across the carpeted floor, laughing.He looked like a bodybuilder or a linebacker.When he got to their table, Jerry had to crane his neck to look up at him.How tall was he?Six-seven?“Well done, Trout.”
Jerry looked at the Cybertruck.It had rolled forward about two feet.“Did you just—?”
“I did.Lights are too easy.Automated self-driving system?That takesactualskill.”Two ship security guards approached the Cybertruck, clearly expecting to find someone inside.The tall man twitched his chin in their direction and observed, “They look so confused.”
Fisher gestured at him.“Captain Chase Anderson, meet my team.Swanson, McBride, Sanders, and Brock.”
Anderson shook hands with each one.“Nice to meet you all.Heard some stories.”
Fisher gestured at him.“Chase’s with 11th Cyber at Schofield Barracks.”
“Nice,” Jerry said.“My dad was stationed there when I was a kid.”A memory surfaced of Sunday services at the beach, waves crashing against jagged rocks as the preacher’s voice carried over the breeze.Mabel giggling as she played in the sand with her Beach Barbie.A wave of warm nostalgia hit him, tinged with a sudden pang of missing his mother.
“We enjoy it.I’m ready to get back to the lower forty-eight, though.”He pointed across the promenade.“My wife is hoping for Meade next.”
“Busy area,” Swanson said.“Baltimore isn’t Northern Virginia, but it’s close.I think I’d choose somewhere else.”
“Well, some things have to be experienced to fully understand,” Anderson said.“And Vi likes the easy trip to Manhattan from there.She regularly goes.”
Brock pushed his hat back on his head and scratched his temple.“I’m from the Bronx.I’m happy to be stationed in Kentucky.”
“I bet,” Anderson said, a grin stretching across his face.“But I’m looking forward to not having to fly six hours just to get started on a trip.”
“Fair enough.”Jerry gestured at a chair.“Would you like to join us?”
He shook his head.“I’m with my wife.But we’d love to get together.”
“Violet’s with you?”Fisher asked.“How is the world’s most famous novelist these days?”
Anderson grinned.“I don’t know about all that, but this is her trip.She’s here on a writing retreat with a bunch of other authors.”
Fisher laughed.“So you’re just strap-hanging?”
Anderson nodded, “I’m Mr.Violet Pearl, so yeah.Free cruise?I’m in.Maybe we can do lunch?”
Jerry glanced at Swanson, who knew the schedule for the wedding events.The way his friend could keep those kinds of details straight should be considered a superpower.Swanson nodded, so Jerry said, “Lunch is perfect.”
After Anderson rejoined his wife, Fisher shut the lid of his laptop.“Solid man there.His wife is Violet Pearl.She writes those Mandalyn Clementine mysteries.”
Jerry mentally pictured the book Olive read on the plane.“Olive reads those.”
“I’ve read every one of them,” Swanson said.“Chase Anderson.I recognize the name.Didn’t he play for A&M?”
Jerry shook his head.“Everything I know about college football is nothing.”
“Communist,” Sanders teased.
Jerry raised an eyebrow.“Since everyone knowsbaseballis America’s pastime, remind me, Drumstick.Who won the World Series last year?”
Sanders shrugged.“If it ain’t the Braves, who cares?”
Jerry shrugged.“Braves are my favorite team whenever they play the Yankees.Actually, my favorite team is whoever plays the Yankees.”
