"What do you mean missing?" I almost shouted—had I not remembered that I was in the front sala and not in a more private room.
Capitan Sadiwa flinched, surprised by my reaction. He shifted in his seat and fully turned to face me. His lips moved, but no words came out.
Gone was the good mood. What I had just heard was not something one wanted to hear—especially in a culture of discipline I was trying to cultivate among the recruits.
I wiped my face and said in a much calmer, lower voice, "When did this happen? And why are you only telling me now?"
Capitan Sadiwa swallowed hard. I could hardly believe this was the same man who had impressed me just the other week with his energy and organization.
"Last Sunday, Heneral… when we returned from the final day of construction in Landi," he said. "Cadet Suarez informed me as soon as I got back to the barracks. I hadn't told you sooner… because… I thought we had just misplaced them…"
