He smiled briefly. “The government’s representatives will be scrutinizing more than your flying when they’re here. The Star used to produce valuable cadets for the U.S. Air Force Academy by being hard on them. Curbing their youth. Tourn wasn’t wrong about my cadets. ‘They enjoy too much freedom,’ I’ve been told. Academy life in Colorado comes as a shock.”
“But we don’t need to beat kids into military service. We need those who are willing and ready and able.” Chase sounded like her father, but she didn’t care. “Tourn understands that. He’d rather have five good men than fifteen conscripted ones. That’s one of his mottos.”
Kale sat forward and put his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know what’s made you talk about your—about Tourn so civil-like, but it’s good. It’ll help when he shows up on Sunday.”
“He’s not going to make me fall apart,” she said, more for herself than Kale. “I’ll be ready.” She held back from adding, Although I have no idea how.
“We both will.”
Snowflakes swirled outside Kale’s small window. The black backdrop made each white crystal stand out. “General Kale?” she started. When Chase and Tristan talked about Tourn, the words just seemed to fall out, but it wasn’t like that with Kale. These words weren’t connected. She had to line them up, slow and painful.
“I’ve actually been thinking. About Tourn. A lot.”
“A dangerous pastime.”
“Seriously. He…he seems so hated. I mean, even the Canadian officers bristle when he shows up on screen. So why does he have so many stars? He’s been plastered with promotions ever since the world found out what he did to the Philippines.”
“First of all, the only thing he did was follow orders.” Kale leaned back. “Secondly, Tourn has a knack for organizing bases and planning operations. The men and women under his command do their best because they’re never left wanting. I’ve seen it time and again. You know I don’t praise him for the fun of it, but he knows what people need, and he gets it for them.”
“Except me.” Now she couldn’t stop herself. “He couldn’t figure out what I needed.”
“Didn’t he make sure you made it to the academy?”
“You could say that. He definitely faked my application.” Chase’s hands searched for her knees. For the edge of the desk. For something to hold on to. Nothing stilled them until she clasped her wrists and squeezed.
“Go on,” Kale said, not unkindly, but with an edge sharp enough to suggest that what she was admitting to was as big of a secret as she always thought it would be.
Kale’s office turned too quiet as the truth unfurled like a wet and clinging flag. “You showed up at my apartment all those years ago with a plane ticket, and I thought escaping Janice sounded like the best thing in the world. I…never meant to deceive you.” She sighed. “When the government board gets here, they’re going to go through every word of my file. Something won’t add up. I’m sure of it.”
A new idea burned like a splash of jet fuel. “Tourn could get in trouble.”
“Harcourt, listen carefully,” Kale said. She focused on the wave of his hair and the way he looked at her like she mattered. “First, the government would never touch Tourn. They need him to shoulder too much guilt.”
Chase breathed a tad easier. Had she actually been worried for Tourn? No way. Never.
“And”—Kale leaned back in his chair—“I know about your paperwork, or I should say, I expected as much. New cadets are thrilled when they get their invitation to the academy, seeing as how they’ve been working on their application for years. I’ve heard stories of celebration parties where the whole town is invited.” He paused. “Do you remember what you said when I showed you the acceptance letter?”
She shook her head.
“You leaned in so your mother couldn’t hear and asked, ‘Will he be there?’”
Chase looked down at her hands while Kale continued. “After that, I didn’t think I could convince you to attend, but you surprised me. Reversed your attitude and energy in one conversation.”
Chase swallowed. Kale was still on her side, and now she felt a bit sheepish about doubting him. “What will happen if the government board figures it out?”
“I’ve gone over your files, and it all appears in line. We’ll move forward as though it’s going to be okay.” He sat forward. “I’m glad you admitted the truth. That shows real maturity.”
Chase stood, as shaky as if she had cried, and yet also a good deal lighter. “I couldn’t tell you before. I was too afraid you’d kick me out.”
“What’s different now?”
“Tourn is coming.” And opening up to Tristan was unwinding things inside of her and proving that it was never honesty she was afraid of. It was the rejection that came with it.
“Remember, Harcourt, Tourn hasn’t had a hand in your success here. He might have gotten you in, but you earned your wings. You became the best pilot in your class, and you won the opportunity to become one of the first Streaker jocks. And you’re going to prove that in three days.” He paused. “What will you do about Donnet?”
Her head grew heavier, that fast. “I don’t know.”
“I think you should take a page out of this book. Talk to him. Openly and alone.”
Chase held back from pointing out that she’d already tried that. “He’s avoiding me pretty stealthily.”
“Not tomorrow. Tomorrow he’ll be strapped to you and falling a good thirteen thousand feet. Apply your usual fervor and you’ll get him between the crosshairs.” She half-smiled, always enjoying when Kale tried to speak jock pilot. He stood up. “And though I’m so very cool, you should be in your barracks. It’s late.”
Chase felt surprisingly…good. She had Tristan to thank for that, which reminded her. “Wait. I need something. The casualty report on the JAFA bombing.”
Kale was shaking his head before she’d finished. “That’s classified, and you shouldn’t even be talking about it. Router needs to let this go.” He looked at her sideways. “Did he put you up to this?”