“It says you are currently stationed at Fort Belvoir?”
“Yes. I am on leave to handle this family matter.”
“And your rank is…” She paused. “Major?”
“Yes, Your Honor. Major Elena Vance.”
My father scoffed.
“Major of what? The Salvation Army?”
The judge ignored him.
“And your specialty…”
She stopped reading.
Then she looked at Mr. Sterling.
Then at my parents.
Then back at me.
“You’re JAG?”
The courtroom fell silent.
“Yes, Your Honor,” I said clearly. “I am a Senior Trial Counsel with the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. I prosecute war crimes, felony fraud, and treason. I have practiced law for seven years.”
My father’s smile froze.
Mr. Sterling dropped his pen.
“I have never been unemployed,” I continued. “The months I ‘disappeared’ were deployments to Iraq and Germany. My parents didn’t know about my career because much of my work is confidential, and because they never bothered to ask.”
Judge Halloway leaned back.
