Monty walked into the pretty café, with its handful of tables and the big glass display cases that were usually full of mouthwatering treats.

Not much in the display cases today.

Nadine walked out of the back room where she did the cooking and baking. “Lieutenant.”

“Ms. Fallacaro, I am so sorry this happened.”

“Could have been worse. Those little bastards could have—would have—done more if Chris hadn’t run downstairs with a baseball bat and started swinging.”

Chris’s father was Nadine’s cousin and the owner of Fallacaro Lock & Key—and a member of the Humans First and Last movement. Chris’s refusal to join the HFL was the reason he was currently staying with Nadine. Monty wondered whether Fallacaro knew or cared that the HFL had targeted members of his family.

“He thinks one of them might have a broken arm,” Nadine continued.

“He’s lucky they didn’t jump him,” Kowalski said.

Nadine gave Kowalski a bitter smile. “They belong to the right kind of human. They didn’t expect the likes of us to object to anything they chose to do, so they weren’t prepared for someone to fight back.”

Not this time, Monty thought. But if there’s a next time? “I’ll explain the situation to Tess. I think she, and Mr. Wolfgard, will understand why you can’t provide—”

“You’ll do no such thing.” Nadine sniffed. “If I give in, then the next demand will be to join the HFL. You think I didn’t notice how many stores are sporting that decal this morning? No, Lieutenant. I’m not closing my café, I’m not letting fools with an agenda tell me who can buy my baked goods and other foods, and by all the gods, I am not putting an HFL decal in my window.” She sniffed again and squared her shoulders. “Besides, anyone who wants to defy the HFL in this neighborhood needs to buy food somewhere.”

Monty extracted one of his business cards, turned it over, and wrote his mobile phone number on the back. “If you or Chris have any more trouble, you call me.” He held out the card. “You call me.”

“You going to the Courtyard?” Nadine asked.

“I am.”

“Could you take a delivery?”

“I can.” Monty turned to Kowalski. “Officer, why don’t you drive the car around to the delivery door.”

“Yes, sir.” Kowalski walked out.

“Discretion, Lieutenant?”

“Practicality.”

Nadine rubbed her hands over her arms, as if trying to warm herself. “You tell Tess that I’ll have the extras she asked for next week.”

“I’ll tell her.” A ringing sound startled him.

“Have to take those cookies out of the oven. Come around to the door over there.”

She opened the Employees Only door for him, and he followed her as she hurried to the back of her shop to pull out the cookies.