Page 26 of Viral Justice

“Granted, Sergeant,” he said as if tired.

She marched out and shut the door, rather proud of the fact that she didn’t slam it.

* * *

Max waited three seconds, then got up and went to the door himself. “Eugene, find out if General Stone is in his office.”

There was only one man he could consult with on the subject of Sergeant Stone and how to get through the woman’s thick, stubborn skull.

“Yes, sir,” Eugene called out from his desk.

A few seconds later, Max’s phone rang.

He picked it up and barked, “Maximillian.”

There was silence for a moment, then General Stone said, “Who died?”

“No one yet,” Max said, wincing. “I apologize for my tone, sir. I’ve just had a frustrating conversation with my self-defense trainer and wanted to ask your advice.” He hoped to God doing it wasn’t a mistake.

Silence again. “I see.”

When the general didn’t say anything else, Max continued. “She proposed a course of action I couldn’t condone. Unfortunately, even after I explained my decision, she refused to back down. Given her precipitous departure of my office, I can only assume that she’s very pissed off. Any advice for me on how I might affect a change in her attitude?”

“Patience.”

The general didn’t add anything else.

“That’s it? I was hoping for something constructive I could do or say.”

“My daughter has a stubborn streak wider than the Grand Canyon. The best way to convince her of anything is to give her time to think. Stand firm on your decision and she’ll come around eventually. Unless you’re wrong, then she’ll never give up.”

“I’ll settle in for a long wait, then. She was very angry with me when she left.”

“Angry is fine, insubordinate is another.” The general’s tone was questioning.

Why would he be asking, even adroitly, if his daughter had been insubordinate? “Angry, sir.”

The general grunted and asked, “Anything else?”

“No, sir.”

The line went dead.

Max punched in Eugene’s number.

As soon as the young man answered, Max said, “Eugene, come to my office please.”

Eugene was at the door two seconds later. “Yes, sir?”

“Shut the door and come in.”

Eugene carefully approached the desk and came to attention.

“Take a seat,” Max said. “Anyone not lab personnel outside my door or in your area this morning?”

“There was—a couple of people from Supply with our daily order, but they left...uh...after you asked for General Stone.”

Supply? “Do the same people deliver our order every day?”

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