Chapter 2 - The Woman in the Black Hoodie
Emma arrived at Naval Training Annex Harrow just after nine that morning.
She wore a black hoodie, dark cargo pants, and boots dulled by years of use. The canvas bag over her shoulder had been repaired so many times that the original stitching was difficult to find.
She did not look like headquarters.
That was intentional.
The security officer at the gate verified her identification, called a restricted extension, and received permission to admit her.
Her instructions were specific.
Do not display rank.
Do not identify the sponsoring command.
Observe the range under ordinary operating conditions.
Emma signed the log and walked toward the firing line alone.
Ryan noticed her within minutes.
He had been supervising a weapons evaluation for a new group of operators and disliked interruptions, particularly those he did not control.
“Visitors remain behind the marked barrier.”
“I was directed to the range office.”
“Then wait there.”
Walker was inside reviewing ammunition reports, so Emma remained beside a closed rifle case placed near the office wall.
She recognized the case immediately.
It contained the prototype platform she had been sent to evaluate.
When she placed two fingers on its worn handle to confirm the inventory number, Ryan saw her.
His reaction was instant.
He shouted across the line, drew the attention of every operator present, and transformed a routine correction into a performance.
Emma could have revealed her authority then.
She chose not to.
Her assignment was not only to inspect a weapon.
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It was to examine what happened when personnel believed no senior authority was watching.
Ryan provided the answer faster than headquarters expected.
