"Oh, I think Sherlock's vote counts a little more than mine," Cal says lightly.

Under normal circumstances, it would be a gentle hint: Cal is a guest, it's rude to pit him against his host like this. He's forgotten entirely about that angle, though, and is still focused on not giving Obadiah ammunition. The ultimate goal is to leave the man with the impression that Cal is a harmless kid, not too bright, definitely not suspicious of anything. Just caught up in the social rules he's been taught to obey.