“She got better, but that doesn’t change anything! Heroes don’t laser kids. Even when they deserve it!”

“That is not what happened!” she screamed. Teddy growled, and the Hero’s attitude calmed down a notch.

Emily shook her head. “Indoor voice.”

“Should I?” Athena asked.

“ . . . Yes,” Emily said.

“What?” the Hero asked. “You can’t use mental powers on someone! That’s illegal.”

“You haven’t been terribly forthcoming about what you’re doing here, who you are, or who sent you,” Emily said, signaling Athena to wait. “What am I supposed to do?”

The Hero twisted onto her back and looked up at Emily. “You let me go, because I’m a Hero,” she said.

“Likely story,” Emily said. “Do you know what happens to liars?”

“Oh no,” Teddy growled. Emily knew she sounded concerned, but when a massive bear said “Oh no,” that lent a whole new level of distress to the words.

Emily nodded. “Liars get punished. I’m not beyond putting you in time-out, and spankings are very effective.” That was a twist on the truth. So far, the threat of those had been more than enough.

“What is wrong with you?”

Emily sighed, moved on her chair so that she was sitting wide, then leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. She stared into the woman’s visor, and into her own tiny reflection in the blackened glass. “I don’t know who you are. But I do know about this place. This is the home of a Villain, isn’t it? A small-time, local Villain, one who was just taken out. Now, let’s be a little more honest with each other. What were you doing here?”

“There was a noise complaint.”

“Lie,” Emily said. She turned to Athena. “Not too strong.”

“Hey, hey, wait, what are . . .” The Hero paused and then shivered, her head turning to look this way and that. “Oh, that’s not good,” she muttered.

“What were you actually doing here?” Emily asked.

“I . . . I don’t have to tell you anything.”

“Who told you about this place?”

The woman clammed up, jaw working and mouth set in a straight line.

“Fine,” Emily said. “Does anyone know you’re here?” There was a slight twitch that Emily decided was a yes. “All right then. My companions and I are leaving. We will be calling the police to come and take you in. Enjoy your stay on the floor.”

“You’re going to leave me here?”

“I have things I need to do. And between the two of us, I think I’ve learned plenty.” Emily gestured to the chair. “Could you put this back in its place, please?”

“Yup,” Athena said. She dragged the chair back while Emily headed for the back door.