There were nine reporters outside the front of the building and two vans.
That was fewer than the launch and considerably more than nothing, and they were not besieging the place — they were standing around the barrier drinking coffee, waiting for one of five specific faces to come out a door.
James turned the car toward the rear.
"You are going round the back," said Alice.
"I am."
"Because of me."
"No."
She looked at him.
"Because I've got a two-hour meeting in there," James said, "and if I walk in the front I'm doing twenty minutes on the step first, and I'll be honest, I'd rather not." He pulled in at the reader. "If you want to walk out the front later, walk out the front later. That's not mine."
Alice considered that.
"Fine," she said, and got out on her own side.
---
Inside, the building was working.
