“If I explain how the military search-and-rescue hydraulic hoist works during high-altitude extractions, he’ll see that I read real textbooks.”

I set the kettle back on the iron stove ring and adjusted my silver wristwatch.

The metal band felt cool against my wrist.

“Henry,” I said, keeping my voice measured and quiet.

“You don’t need to perform for him.

You don’t need to prove your worth with a schematic.”

“We’re going there to introduce ourselves, not to fight,” Henry said, looking straight into my eyes.

He turned the paper around on the table so the handwritten title block faced the head of the table.