Regardless, this was where Mrs. Erickson lived. Until Kaylin’s first home—an apartment—had been destroyed by a large arcane bomb, Kaylin hadn’t dreamed of an actual house. She now lived in Helen, in one of the swankiest of neighborhoods, and still felt residual guilt about it.

Kaylin didn’t like at least one of Mrs. Erickson’s neighbors, because at least one of the neighbors ventured out of their own house onto her lawn, rather than using the narrow walk that led from the street.

“What did the old biddy do this time?” he asked. He was a broad-shouldered man with a very irritating grin.

“Mrs. Erickson,” Kaylin replied, emphasizing her name, “came to the Halls of Law to report something. As many citizens do.” She was aware that many of those citizens lived in an alternate reality, often augmented by far too much alcohol or other items of questionable legality. But the man’s question set her teeth on edge.

Worse, however, was Mrs. Erickson’s polite smile. “I’m sorry if we made enough noise to disturb you.” There were ways of delivering such an apology that made an insult of it. Condescension was a prized social weapon for most of Kaylin’s Barrani friends or acquaintances. But that wasn’t what Mrs. Erickson was doing, here. Her shoulders had dropped, her back curving as if to ward off unwanted notice. Which never worked.

Hope sat up, catching the man’s attention. “Hey, what’s that you got on your shoulder?”

Kaylin saw Hope open his jaws, the ruby interior of his mouth in stark contrast to the translucence of his body. It took her longer than it should have to insert her hand between Hope and the neighbor.

“An exotic pet,” Kaylin replied. “Now, if you’ll excuse us?”

“Where’d you get it?”

Ignoring him, Kaylin turned to Mrs. Erickson. “Lead the way.”

Mrs. Erickson’s entire tell was one of gratitude, and this made things worse. She was afraid of her neighbor. One of the two who’d failed to notice her absence, and who’d failed to check up on her. If Mrs. Erickson had relied on the aid of her neighbors, she’d probably have starved to death.

“Hey, I asked you a question,” the large man snapped.

“I heard it,” Kaylin replied, her voice a particular kind of neutral that would have immediately caused any Hawk who knew her to step in. Being off duty, none of those Hawks were here. She didn’t bother to look in his direction, but did lower her hand.

“Answer it.”

“Mrs. Erickson?” Kaylin’s smile was probably a clear indicator of her emotions at the moment.