“Of course,” Helen said, her voice shaking but carrying across the quiet room.

“We are all so incredibly proud of her.”

She looked around at the Admiral’s wife, then at the younger officers in the back.

“I’m sure you all understand why we had to keep Emerson’s achievements so quiet,” she said.

She reached out a hand toward me, though she did not touch my sleeve.

“The security risks were simply too high.”

She nodded, as if agreeing with herself, trying to force the room to agree with her.

“As her mother, I had to protect her from the public eye. It was for her own safety.”

Drummond did not step back.

He turned his head slowly to look at her.

His grey eyes were cold under his bristled brows.

“Is that what you call it, Mrs. Rogers?” Drummond asked.

“Safety?”

Helen’s hand dropped back to her side, her fingers clenching her purse.

“The operations were classified, General,” she said quickly. “We were advised to maintain a low profile.”

“The operations were declassified six months ago,” Drummond said.