Amber smiled at them, then swung her legs out of bed and laced up her sneakers. Her fingers were practically back to normal. Milo was already awake, and sitting with his back against the wall like there was nowhere else he’d rather be.

The door clicked and Amber stood. She shivered, and noticed Kelly hugging her bare arms to keep warm. She had an intricate tattoo sleeve all the way down to her left wrist. The sleeve on her right was a work in progress.

Chief Novak walked in, uniform as crisp as ever and his shoes as polished. Accompanied by a younger officer, he ignored Amber and Milo and focused instead on Kelly and Ronnie.

“Good day to you,” he said.

“Hi,” said Kelly.

“I’d welcome you to our town, but I believe my officers have already done that.”

“Yes, sir,” said Kelly. “That nice lady officer. Lucy, her name is?”

“I believe you are referring to Officer Thornton.”

“That’s right,” said Kelly. “Officer Thornton. She welcomed us as she was putting on the handcuffs.”

Novak nodded. “When you were arrested for the destruction of public property.”

“We’d prefer not to say anything about that,” Ronnie said, “until we speak to a lawyer.”

“Understandable,” said Novak. “But I don’t think we need to go that far, do you? In Desolation Hill we frown upon the frivolous waste of taxpayers’ money.”

“Does that mean we’re not being charged?” Kelly asked.

“It could,” said Novak. “But there’d be conditions.”

Ronnie glanced at Kelly. “Such as?”

“You’d have to pay for the box you wrecked to be replaced. I’d say for materials and time, it’ll come to forty dollars.”

“We can pay that.”

“That’s good to hear,” said Novak. “Second condition is that you leave town. Today. That one’s non-negotiable, I’m afraid. If you can’t agree to it, you’ll be brought up on charges.”

“No, no,” said Ronnie, “there’s no need for that. We’ll leave.”

Novak nodded. “Gone by midnight, then. In that case, Officer Ortmann here will sign you out. You can pay the fine at the desk.”

“Thank you for being so understanding, Chief,” Ronnie said as Ortmann unlocked the cells. They were led out, and Kelly waved at Amber as she went.

When they were gone, Novak turned to Amber and Milo. “The mayor is busy for most of the day,” he said. “He’ll see you when he’s done.”

Amber shifted. “You know about us,” she said, “about demons. We’re not here to cause any trouble, I swear. Those bikers on the edge of town, they’re the ones you have to worry about. They’ve been chasing us—”

Novak walked for the door.

“Hey,” said Amber. “Hey! We’re not your enemy here!”

Novak didn’t even glance back. “Anyone who’s not us,” he said, “is our enemy.”