“Of course not,” Frank snapped.

“But you did document a case in which …” Adelaide turned to a bookmarked page of the report, “in which an incubus invaded the home of a Fairwick professor and sexually molested her, did you not?”

Frank’s eyes flicked to mine for a brief instant, but long enough, I was sure, for him to have seen the pain in my eyes. I shouldn’t have been surprised that he’d reported on my relationship with Liam, but it hurt that he’d expressed it in those terms.

“Yes, but I also reported that the professor in question was able to banish the incubus with help from her colleagues, including some otherworldly colleagues. They got the job done. And I’d say the same about Fairwick College – the people here may not always play by the book, but they get the job done. They’re good people, by and large, whether human or otherwise.”

Eleanor Belknap grunted assent and Loomis Pagan nodded her head in agreement. A little bit of my anger against Frank dispelled.

“But then you don’t always know which you’re dealing with, do you, Dr. Delmarco? Are you acquainted with one Soheila Lilly?”

“Yes, I know Dr. Lilly. She teaches Middle Eastern Studies here.”

“And what is your relationship with Dr. Lilly?”

“We’re colleagues – and friends,” Frank answered warily, looking questioningly at me. Frank had told me once that he didn’t exactly know what Soheila was. I hadn’t volunteered the information that she was a succubus.

“So you’ve had ample opportunity to observe her. Do you know if she’s human?”

“I know that she’s a kind, intelligent, generous woman, an excellent teacher, and an outstanding scholar. She’s never hurt a soul. That’s good enough for me.”

“Hm, but if you don’t know what she is, how do you know that your judgment of her hasn’t been compromised?”

Before Frank could answer – an answer which I believe would have included a rich array of expletives – Adelaide raised her voice. “The Grove calls Soheila Lilly.”

The door opened and Soheila appeared, escorted by Jen Davies. She and Soheila, arms linked, looked as if they might have been girlfriends out shopping together. Jen escorted Soheila to the end of the table opposite to where Frank sat and, giving Soheila a small apologetic smile, left her. Soheila glanced first at Liz, then at the Grove members – then she saw Frank. A spontaneous smile of surprise and pleasure spread across her face and I realized she must have been sequestered somewhere where she couldn’t watch the proceedings. She didn’t know yet that Frank was an internal affairs agent – or that he’d just been asked if he knew what sort of creature she was.

“Please state your full name,” Adelaide ordered.

“Soheila Lilly,” she replied.

“Is that your full name?”