The Father's Anger

"How was the meeting?" James asked casually.

"Lock the door!" said Hendry which made James silent because his father ignored him. Then a soft thumping sound came from the door. And the panel on the wall, on the right side of the door, turned from green to glowing red.

Something's not right here, James thought. Why should he activate the door lock? Or, it will continue to be something very secret, and he doesn't want anyone else to hear it.

"Is there anything you want to tell me, son?"

James frowned at his father's question. What does it mean? Shouldn't I be the one asking that with all the weirdness he shows?

"I'm not sure, father," said James. "You'll tell me?"

"You know," Hendry took a deep breath, then leaned his back against the back of the sofa. "Beatrice Alexandrite and Adam Zircon want a reduction in the number of officers guarding the planet's outer orbit."

"And?"