Golden sunlight came through a window that looked out on a clear, blue sky, falling upon a round conference table made of glittering SmartGlass. Jack Hunter sat at that table, idly drumming his fingers on its surface. The man named Arin was next to him, hunched over and pinching his chin with thumb and forefinger. Jena kept swiveling her chair back and forth. Claire blew a big, pink bubble that made a slimy sound when it popped, then sucked her gum back into her mouth.
A young woman that Harry had never met sat with her elbows on the table, cradling her head in both hands. If he didn’t know better, he would have sworn she was hung over. Maybe she was just dumbfounded by the utter nonsense he had just spoken.
By far, the best reaction came from Melissa.
She sat with one arm draped over t
