She responded to the brigadier general's wink with a smile of self-awareness. He was right, of course. But she'd never spoken with either of them outside of a military setting . . . or not for many years, at least, and without all the formality, she really had very little relationship to either of them. To let go of the ceremony meant she'd be alone, at least until she forged some new friendships, and as that might not be easy for her, she preferred not to go that route.

She took the chair from the other desk and set it at a reasonable closeness before sitting and listening. The entry room? She wasn't certain where that was, but if accurately named, it must be . . . well, one door away from the outside, and she assumed that was the door he meant if it required a key. But why did he have it? Could it really be that easy?

Her questions, however, would only waste time, and if the colonel's claim about last night were any indication, time was not in their favor. She merely sat forward, listening intently to them both.