“We were just telling Richard Hail that you were visiting from the air base on short leave,” Margaret said, her voice overly sweet.

“It’s always so generous when family members come back for big events after fifteen years away,” she added.

Gerald tapped his signet ring on the glass rim again, harder this time.

“We can handle this quietly before the dinner seating begins,” Gerald said, drawing a folded paper from his dark suit pocket.

“I spoke with our legal counsel at Ulette Insurance yesterday morning,” he said.

“I can give you a small desk in the underwriting department if you sign this release.”