Lights out in two minutes, please. Dinner will be served shortly in the staff lounge, followed by a movie. Remember to turn off all flashlights by uncovered windows.” When Angela’s announcement was over, Parker pressed the button for the blinds, horizontal wooden slats that descended with a whisper from the very tops of the high windows. When they were in place and closed, they blocked out the last rays of sunset. He switched on his flashlight, sweeping the beam over the room. “We’ll have to take one of these when we go.” “Hmm.” Adam was stretched out on the bed, fully dressed aside from his boots and jacket, his ankles crossed as he stared at the ceiling. He’d shaved off his beard, leaving only artful stubble. It was delightfully vain that he’d made the effort to get his facial hair back to the way it had been at Stanford. Parker wanted to tease him about it, but bit his tongue. Parker had shaved the scrubby bits of facial hair he’d grown, and it felt nice to have his face perfectly smooth again.
