Dawson finally clapped his hands together, the sound sharp enough to cut through the quiet hum of shifting chairs and shuffling papers.
"That will be all for today," he said, voice carrying authority as he glanced at the clock behind the players, sighing once he saw the time.
"It wasn't in the plans, but we've run longer than we planned, so I'll let you all go before I'm accused of holding you hostage."
A few muted chuckles rose in the room as he gestured toward the door where the hallway light bled in, casting a pale rectangle across the carpet.
"Drills will wait until tomorrow. But I want all of you here early. Don't come dragging in when the sun's already overhead."
His eyes swept the room, daring anyone to make light of it, and it seemed his message had gone clear.
"See you tomorrow," he said, and one by one the players began filing out, the buzz of quiet conversations rising as they spilt into the corridor.
