Dr. Ritz walked in and sat behind Kale’s desk. “Brigadier General David Kale asked me to check in on you.”
“So I’m not the only person you go full title on,” she muttered.
“What was that?” Ritz asked.
“I said, ‘Great to see you!’”
Ritz touched the corner of her glasses. “I know you’re under a lot of pressure. The trials in January are important.”
“Dive right in, why don’t you.” When she didn’t respond, Chase added, “No, really?”
“More than you seem to understand. What you did today was appalling. The Canadians might not have manpower equal to the Star, but JAFA is just as essential to eventual victory.”
“Jaff what?”
“The Royal Canadian Junior Air Force Academy. JAFA.”
Chase popped her knuckles. “Didn’t know its name. So wait, if you know about it, tell me why they have a Streaker.”
Ritz’s tight expression proved she knew more than what she was saying, but the crafty woman switched directions. Had they been maneuvering in the air, Chase might have been impressed. “If those jets are as capable as their reputation suggests, the Second Cold War could be coming to an end. Depending on you.”
Missile lock.
“Christ, Crackers.” Heat scorched up Chase’s neck. “Why would you…are you trying to make me crumble under the pressure? I’m aware of what’s at stake.”
“Are you?” Ritz asked. “Because I’m having trouble believing that the military’s best option is putting our future in the hands of young cadets. In your hands.”
“And Sylph,” Chase said fast. Kale acted the same way, like even though she was one half of the Streaker project, she was the half that mattered. “Why don’t you go give Sylph this little pep talk?”
“Because Leah Grenadine is a model student. She completes her homework on time and visits me regularly to discuss the trials. She doesn’t use study sessions to break the tender hearts of other students.”
Chase’s blush went viral. “Didn’t realize that you’re also a love doctor, Crackers.”
“I’ve been summoning you over the past few weeks to talk about Tanner Won. He’s been in to see me following your romantic encounter.”
“You should thank me. Tanner now knows he shouldn’t let emotions sucker punch him. There’s practically a war on.” It was a bold lie to say that she’d helped Tanner. She’d hurt him. That’s what she’d done, but Chase suppressed that knowledge under the idea he would come out of this stronger. “Whatever doesn’t kill you, right?”
A clock ticked loud seconds. Ritz didn’t respond. Chase was swept up into asking her real question. “Is Kale working on my expulsion?”
The psychiatrist frowned. “I think he’s fighting to keep you. Does that surprise you?”
“Fighting with who?” Chase shouldn’t have asked that question. She shouldn’t have let the words—followed by the very real possibility—enter her world. Kale answered to few people, all higher-up generals without direct authority over the Star. With one exception. The highest of them all who had a say in everything. Five stars to Kale’s solitary one.
The General of the Air Force.
Chase tucked in her limbs, made herself tight and tiny against the idea that Kale was arguing with him. The very person whose existence reminded her that she did not belong at the Star.
Her father.
Ritz made a tsk sound. Apparently being a psychiatrist did not entitle her to an understanding of body language. Either that or the woman wanted to poke Chase when she was down. “What made you believe you could engage in such a reckless flight with so little regard for the consequences?”
“I proved I’m not crazy,” Chase said. “I wasn’t imagining that Streaker.”
“And in the process you’ve endangered Canada. And America. You do see that.”
“I didn’t start this!” Chase couldn’t stop herself from yelling. “If I had been told about that Canadian Streaker, none of this would have happened. I should have been trusted.”
“You’re supposed to trust your superior officers.” Kale’s voice came through the room like a gale. It blew Ritz to her feet and sent her out the door. He closed it behind her. “You risked your life, your RIO’s life, and the lives of Streaker Team Phoenix. Not to mention what you did to Pegasus. You don’t deserve to keep your wings beyond this conversation.”
“General, I…” Chase couldn’t breathe. “I had to prove I wasn’t going crazy like Crowley.”
“Cadet Crowley? What does he have to do with this?” Kale sat behind his desk before he caught up with the reference. “Oh, I see. You thought…” He cleared his throat. “Your RIO just spent an hour explaining your actions. Donnet insists it was our fault for daring you. He turned that brain on me and said I should have known better, since I claim to know you so well. He got six demerits for his cheek.” Chase made a mental note to give Pippin’s big brain a kiss the next time she saw it. Kale’s voice slid low. “So. You feel swindled. Is that it?”
She answered with silence.
Kale’s hair was wild, like he’d been tugging on it. “Deception and misdirection have always been tools in the military, Harcourt. That doesn’t mean I’m making excuses. I detest it. I wish I had a way around it, but there are certain ways things must be done in the business of the nation’s safety. Your RIO might have a point, but I had to report to General Tourn all the same. I’m waiting for his decision now.”
Chase stood, but inside she was falling—straight through the tile. Through the earth’s crust and into its liquid-burning core. “You can’t leave it up to him. He’ll throw me away.”
Tears strode down her cheeks, but she didn’t bother to wipe them.
Kale looked hard in the other direction. “You didn’t leave me a choice.”