Olivia wasn't alone, the other cars disgorging a collection of two suited men and three primly dressed women. I knew most of them by sight, of course, but I'd never really had much to do with the collected council before, at least not en masse like this. I'd refused to attend town meetings, mostly out of the need to avoid being pointed at and whispered about, though honestly I was really too busy to go. At least, that was my best excuse.

Seeing them all gathered ...