Cash followed Hudson's lead and poured himself another two fingers of the whiskey. He took a healthy sip of it; he didn't want to get drunk with a coworker who he didn't know that well, but he wanted something to take the edge off of his nerves. ''Dark liquor makes me think of Hogwarts,'' Cash said, with a self-effacing smile. ''So you could certainly say that.''

He took another sip. ''But I do have a soft spot for bourbon.''