You were looking?

I thought it best to protect those that could be quietly preserved, yes.

You think the Barrani might interfere with it?

It’s happened in the Hawks before.

“Fourteen Orbonne,” she said as she looked up.

“What, dear?” Mrs. Erickson said, turning toward Kaylin, her brows folding into far less familiar lines. “Fourteen?”

“I see you’re back again, Officer.” The neighbor’s booming voice interrupted whatever Mrs. Erickson might have said. Kaylin wouldn’t have heard it anyway. She turned toward the neighbor, who was grinning in that extremely fake, jovial way.

Kaylin’s lips turned up at the corners. “I am. I see you’re still minding everyone else’s business.”

The smile on the man’s face stiffened, but didn’t fall off. “Old lady’s my neighbor. We’re neighborly—we look out for each other.”

Kaylin stepped between the neighbor and Mrs. Erickson. “What’s your name, neighbor?”

“Why do you need to know?”

Kaylin shrugged. “It’s not an official question—yet. I’m here as a friend. Of Mrs. Erickson’s. Name’s Kaylin Neya.”

“I didn’t ask your name.”

“No, you didn’t. Some people have no manners, but I’m a Hawk—I’m used to bad manners. I’m also used to criminal behavior and assault. Bad manners are free. Assault, not so much.”

“What are you talking about? Did the old lady say I assaulted her?” The smile, which was repulsive, went away. What was left was anger. Kaylin could see the man’s hands curl into fists. “She tripped. I even helped her up.”

Kaylin said nothing. She did, however, meet—and hold—his gaze. “Mrs. Erickson, why don’t you head inside. I’ll join you in a minute.” Her tone was calmer than the neighbor’s, although she was certain she was at least as enraged. She’d learned a few things in her years with the Hawks.

Mrs. Erickson hesitated.

“Don’t go anywhere,” the neighbor snapped. “I’ll want a witness.”

“To what? You getting the crap beaten out of you by a girl half your size?” Kaylin glanced at his girth. “A third your size?”

His fists tightened.

Kaylin’s didn’t. She knew he had the advantage of reach, size, and muscles, but her training had always taken that into account. What she most hated about him in the moment was his hesitation. She wasn’t afraid. She couldn’t mimic fear.

And he didn’t want to touch someone fearless. Maybe if she turned her back on him, he’d attack then. But facing her? No. Mrs. Erickson, Kaylin noted, stayed rooted to the spot until the moment something flew out the window. Clearly, Jamal was watching.

The neighbor lowered the fists he’d involuntarily raised. This time, there was fear in his expression. “We’ll sort this later,” he told Kaylin, under his breath.

“I’m sure we will.”