From the rear came the voice of a courageous civilian mechanical engineer, "What about a check on the pilots?"
The sudden silence was like an electrical field. The base commander continued to shuffle up his notes and papers, but his neck crimsoned.
He's not going to hear it, Grant thought.
"Conference dismissed!" the general ordered.
Three-four-five rings, and Bridget answered. The first word was a yawned "Lieutenant" and the next was an exhaled "Ashley."
"Sorry to get you up, Bridget. This is Grant. Can you come down to Hangar Four?"
"What time is it?" she asked thickly.
"Three-fifteen. Will you come down here?"
"Unchaperoned?"