He opened the rear door for me.

“Where to, Admiral?” he asked.

“The hotel in Georgetown,” I said.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I sat back in the leather seat as the car pulled out of the Navy Yard gates.

The city lights blurred against the rain-streaked window.

I had a meeting scheduled at nine o’clock tomorrow morning with the Chief of Naval Operations.

But before that, I had a private engagement.

I took out my phone and dialed a number I had not called in months.

It rang three times before a man’s voice answered.

“Nathan,” I said, my voice flat and even.

There was a brief pause on the other end.

“Evelyn?” he said, sounding surprised. “Is the paperwork done? Caroline said she texted you.”

“We need to talk,” I said. “Privately.”

“Now? It’s past ten.”

“I am on my way to the Georgetown waterfront,” I said, looking out at the passing streetlights. “Meet me at the pier in twenty minutes.”

“Can’t this wait until the morning?” he asked, a trace of irritation in his voice. “I have a meeting with the brass at eight.”