Levi cleared his throat. “That’s actually why we thought you might want to stay back here,” he said quickly. “It won’t be safe for you out on the docks.”

Dorothy looked from him to Willis. “You’re helping me, now? Zora gave me the impression that you all were done with me.”

“Ah, so this part doesn’t actually concern me,” Levi said, looking a little embarrassed as he stood. “And I should get back to the bar. Willis? You’ll be okay?”

Willis nodded, his eyes never leaving Dorothy. “I think I can take her, if it comes to that.”

“Or, you know, the two of you could try to solve this without fighting. You might break something.” Levi stood up on his tiptoes and planted a kiss on Willis’s cheek. Turning back to Dorothy, he added, “You need anything? Another drink, maybe?”

“I’m good,” Dorothy quickly answered. And then, blushing, she added, “And thank you.”

“Of course. Any friend of Willis, and all that.” He handed her the dagger. “Try not to stab anyone, will you?”

“I can’t make any promises,” Dorothy said, stowing the dagger away.

“Well, I tried.” And, with that, Levi stepped into the hall, pulling the door closed behind him.

For the first time, Dorothy noticed that Willis looked a little uncomfortable. He cast his eyes to the floor, like he couldn’t quite bring himself to look Dorothy in the eye.

“I’d . . . er . . . . appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to Chandra about me and Levi,” he said, running a finger over his lower lip. “She’s had a thing for Levi for a while now. I’m still hoping she’ll move on.”

Dorothy raised her eyebrows. “My lips are sealed,” she said. “Does Chandra know that you’re helping me hide?”

“She told me you stopped by the library earlier. She seemed to think you had a plan for finding out what happened to Ash.” Willis scratched his chin. “Is that true?”

Dorothy swallowed. She did not have a plan. She had the beginnings of an idea for half a plan, at best. But she didn’t want to disappoint Willis after he’d helped her.

“I’m . . . working on it,” she said.

Willis was watching her, arms crossed. After a minute, he nodded and said, “Well, then. I’ll leave you to it.”

It was the kind of thing you said before leaving the room to go spend a little more time with your secret boyfriend. Dorothy waited for him to leave but, instead, Willis licked his lips, cleared his throat.

“Is there something else?” she asked.

He nodded, seeming to come to some decision, and drew himself up to his full height.