“Miss Greene, I need to call this in. You told the Public Safety officer you were attacked—”

“I know but wait a minute. Please.” A sudden rush of panic gripped me. If Dr. Grant called this in to the police, my parents would make us pack up and go back to Brooklyn, probably that same night. No amount of money or fresh air or chirping birds was enough to make them stay if they thought I was in danger. “Dr. Grant, please. If I tell my parents, they’ll make me leave, and I can’t do that.” I looked at Karter. I thought of Marie, of the garden, and even of the Heart.

“Miss Greene,” Dr. Grant began. I was prepared for her to tell me she didn’t have a choice, that she had to do her job. But she sighed. “My father was up at your place earlier?”

“Yes,” I said.

“And he told you what he does?”

“Sort of. He told me he was an alchemist like I’m supposed to know what that is. Mom thinks it means he’s a wizard.”

Dr. Grant bit down on a smile. “I think you’d have to ask him if you want an exact answer. He’s been studying alchemy since before I was born. It was the same way with my grandfather, and his grandfather’s mother before him. Generations of practice.” Dr. Grant stared off to the side before refocusing. “Imagine their surprise when I told them I wanted to be a social worker.” Dr. Grant shook her head, her face softening. “I’m sure he’ll be a regular at your place. He was when Circe and Selene ran it.”

“He won’t be a regular because I won’t be here if my parents find out what happened.” A knot stuck in my throat. “You don’t know what it was like for me before we came here. The way I’ve felt since we’ve been here? You can’t understand what it means to me. I have to stay.”

Dr. Grant tipped her head back and closed her eyes for a moment. “My only goal is to try and keep the people of this community safe. I haven’t always been able to do that.” Her face hardened again. “I feel like I’m failing you, Miss Greene.” She straightened up and took out her notepad. “Tell me everything you can about what happened, anything you can remember. I’ll look into it discreetly for now. I’ll let you know if I find anything, but if I do, I have to let your parents know.” She shook her head. “This goes against everything I’m trained to do, but if you leave . . .” She sighed. “You deserve to live here in peace. I’ll be damned if a bunch of magical assholes think they can push you around.”