Chapter 4 - The Four-Star Visitor
Bradley’s arm remained frozen in his pathetic salute, his mouth hanging open like a broken mailbox.
Kendra’s face turned from flushed red to chalk white, her fingers digging into the cedar fence for support.
"Major?" Beatrice gasped, stumbling forward onto the lawn.
"General... there must be an administrative error."
"Valerie was a supply administrator... she processed purchase orders for office chairs and field rations."
General Vance turned his head slowly, his piercing steel-gray eyes cutting through my mother’s confusion with absolute authority.
"Mrs.
Hayes, your daughter is one of the most decorated covert reconnaissance officers in modern airborne history."
"She served three consecutive tours with Joint Special Operations Command."
"She holds two Bronze Stars with Valor, a Silver Star, and the Distinguished Service Cross for actions in the Hindu Kush."
"She is also the primary architect of the advanced close-quarters combatives doctrine currently taught to every Green Beret in this nation."
Lucas looked up at me, his eyes shining with profound awe and an overwhelming sense of pride.
The twelve-year shadow of being raised by a "quiet office worker" evaporated into thin air in a matter of seconds.
"Mom..." Lucas breathed, wiping the grass from his knees.
"You... you were Special Forces?"
I walked over to my son, ruffled his dark hair, and gave him a gentle smile.
"I did what our country asked me to do, Lucas."
"And then I came home to be your mother."
Bradley swallowed hard, taking a slow step backward toward his pickup truck.
"General Vance, Sir... this is a wonderful family misunderstanding," Bradley sputtered, sweat pouring down his temples.
"Valerie and I were just doing some friendly Memorial Day sparring... keeping the skills sharp, you know how it is between soldiers."
General Vance’s expression hardened into granite.
"I know exactly how it is, Mr.
Vance."
"And you are no soldier."
"Special Agent Reynolds, step forward and execute the federal warrant."
Two of the plainclothes agents walked directly up to Bradley, pulling pairs of heavy steel handcuffs from their jackets.
May you like
"Bradley Vance, you are under arrest for federal military property theft, wire fraud, and unlawful possession of restricted armory munitions."
The steel cuffs clicked around Bradley’s thick wrists with a cold, unforgiving finality.
