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She hadn’t seen Joan in almost a week. As in, Joan hadn’t stopped by Vector City Coffee. As in, Joan could’ve just been busy at work.

The uptick in Villain activity could also maybe, possibly be the reason. The Supers had been in the news for days—more so than usual. SuperWatch was full of sightings. Catch had mostly been in the thick of things.

Her phone jingled on the other side of the deep plum couch. She didn’t have to look to know it was Mom. Who else called regularly at ten o’clock on a weeknight?

She swiped on the screen and set the call to speakerphone. “Hi, Mom,” she said, steeling herself for what was coming.

“Are you watching the news?” Mom’s soft voice was colored with concern.

“Why?”

“There was another incident.Anotherbattle with those Superheroes. There was fire. A lot of fire. On a busy Monday afternoon.”

“I saw that.”

Before Sadie could assure her mother the Super catfight had been nowhere near her, Mom said, “What if that happened by where you work? What if instead of a man falling through your window, a ball of fire shot through the café and hurt you?”

“This looks like it was by some warehouses down by the river,” Sadie fibbed, bringing the corners of a pink washcloth together.

“Those people bring destruction to every part of the city.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“You need to be careful. It’s so dangerous there.”

“Our overall crime rate is less than any other major city,” she recited by habit.

“I don’t care about other cities. I care about the one my daughter lives in.”

“I’m fine, Mom. I’m folding laundry in my apartment. My building is very secure.”

“Stay away from the windows.”

“Ha ha.”

“I’m serious,” Mom said. “Did you move your bed yet? It’s too close to a window.”

“My building is safe. There’s no reason for any Hero or Villain to be near it.” Unless to live in it, of course. In, say, apartment 714.

“If you feel unsafe, you can come home.” Mom was the one feeling unsafe after the Lunk-through-the-window affair.

“I don’t feel unsafe,” Sadie said. “You know I love it here. Can you trust me a little?”

“I do,” Mom said, her tone filled withNo, I don’t.

Not like Sadie could entirely blame her. She hadn’t exactly made a lot of smart moves. But still… “Where I work is fine. I like it and what I do.”

“Where you work is dangerous!”

“It’s been a little unusual at VCC, but the damage is always repaired.”

Mom grumbled something that sounded like “They shouldn’t have to keep repairing things.”

“The Supers paid to get our window replaced. Ten thousand dollars just appeared in the café’s bank account. They gave us the money for it, and I think for the other times, too.”

“That’s the least they could do,” Mom said.

“They didn’t have to. It was very kind of them.”