Page 18 of Paws & Order

She shrugs.

"Could be something old. Or amateur. I have family in Thistlebrook, but nobody from there would do this. And no one from home has the guts to cross the bridge into Blackthorn. I think they believe madmen run wild here."

I file the nugget away.

"Anyone you've fought with over city work? Permits, closed businesses, the usual suspects?"

She gives me a look like I've just asked if she moonlight as an arsonist.

"The only people angry at me are the ones who wanted to be on the Pumpkin Fest committee."

Then, after a second:

"There was a guy who wouldn't take no for an answer about renting the rec hall for a midnight event, but he gave up after Zadok threatened to ban him."

I make a note.

"We'll keep an eye out. For now, we're rotating shifts until this blows over. And we're getting you security charms in the morning."

"Cassian," she says, her voice lowering. "I don't want my family scared too."

That's the part that finally cracks me.

I lean in, elbows on knees.

"I can put someone on them. Quietly. You want that?"

She nods.

"Yeah. If you could. My parents are old-school; they'd try to fight a stalker with a rolling pin."

I smile because I know the type.

"Done. First thing in the morning, I'm sending Ravena to check in, and we'll put a glamour up around their place. No one gets through unless I say so."

She sips her drink, and for a moment the lines around her mouth soften.

"Thanks."

I want to rest my hand on hers, just for a moment, to steady her or myself or both.

But I don't.

Instead, I focus on the cat, who is now demanding full attention and pawing at my badge.

"You ever consider moving?" I ask. "Somewhere less... haunted?"

She catches my meaning.

"No. I like it here. It's nice knowing monsters are people too."

I laugh, and it feels stupidly good, which makes me clamp down on it quickly.

"Fair enough. But you let us handle the monsters for now."

She nods, then sits very still, her head cocked.

"Do you ever get scared?"