Elliott didn’t seem completely convinced, but he didn’t question her further, and Cadence settled in to wait, thinking Jamie should be done soon. There was no reason to tell Elliott she sort of didn’t want Aaron there because she was hoping to talk to the other Guardians present, except for Brandon, in private if the opportunity presented itself.

Without meaning to, Cadence counted eight more trips up and down the length of hallway directly in front of the door for Brandon before they could see Jamie was finished. He was approaching them with some sort of container in his hand. Christian opened the door for him and literally rubbed his...