The next day, I'm sitting on a bench at Campbell Square Park, waiting for Darius. He's late, which doesn't surprise me. I've got a notebook open on my lap like I'm some student doing summer homework, just another teenager enjoying the park. Totally normal. Definitely not arranging a meeting with a weed dealer to discuss potential Jump distribution points. Actually, is he a weed dealer, or am I just making assumptions? Come on, Sam.

  Ten minutes pass before I spot him approaching with two other guys - one tall and lanky with dreads, the other shorter with a faded Eagles cap. Great. An entourage.

  "You brought friends," I observe as they reach my bench.

  Darius shrugs. "Safety in numbers these days." He gestures to the bench. "Mind if we sit?"

  I scoot over, making room. The tall guy keeps standing, scanning the park with what he probably thinks is subtle vigilance but actually makes him look like he's watching an invisible tennis match.

  "This is Ty," Darius says, nodding to Eagles Cap who sits beside him. "And Costello over there." Tennis Match nods but doesn't break his surveillance routine.

  "Pleasure," I say dryly. "Thanks for meeting me. Your parents named you Costello?"

  "No," he answers bluntly, not elaborating further.

  "You said you had questions about the Sunoco," Darius reminds me, keeping his voice low.

  "Right. I've been watching it. You were right - something's definitely happening there." I pull out a pack of cigarettes and offer one to Darius. He accepts with a raised eyebrow. My first ever pack of cigarettes, lookie me. I'm not exactly becoming a regular smoker, and it's not like those migraines are getting any worse, but at this point I'm finding them just useful to have around. Like a talisman.

  "Didn't take you for a smoker."

  "Recent development," I mutter, handing him a bright pink plastic lighter. I've noticed this weird social lubricant effect they have, making conversations flow easier. Maybe that's part of why people get addicted. "Yellow jacket guy is real. Regular visitors, quick transactions."

  Darius nods, unsurprised. "Told you."

  "What I'm trying to figure out is how it connects to the bigger picture. You mentioned Rogue Wave when we talked before."

  Ty shifts uncomfortably beside Darius. "Man, we ain't here to talk about all that."

  "It's fine," Darius says, waving him off. "She's cool." He turns back to me. "Look, I don't know much more than what I told you. Yellow jacket guy probably sells Jump. That's about it."

  "Have you bought from him?" I ask bluntly.

  Darius actually looks offended. His face scrunches up. "Hell no. That shit is poison."

  "For real," Ty adds. "My cousin tried it once, said it made his dick feel like it was about to fall off. All numb and shit."

  I blink, momentarily thrown off track. "Uh... right. Not the side effect I was expecting."

  Costello finally speaks from his standing position. "Everyone knows Jump fucks you up. Not like weed. Weed's natural."

  Inspiring pharmaceutical expertise from Philadelphia's finest pharmacologists.

  "Does yellow jacket guy have powers?" I press, trying to get back on topic.

  Darius shrugs. "Iunno, dawg. He's just a dude in a jacket."

  "What about other people coming and going from the station? Anyone unusual?"

  The three exchange glances. "There was some other guy there yesterday," Ty offers. "With these weird orange glasses. Real conspicuous."

  "Red jacket? Stupid hat?" I ask.

  Ty shakes his head. "Black jacket, but he had a pointy nose like a mosquito or some shit. And like, one of those big flat hats."

  "Black jacket, hat, and a big nose, you sure you ain't describing one of them J--" Costello starts. I'm about to give him the death glare, but Darius dope slaps him in the ribs before I get the opportunity.

  "Told you to stop saying that shit, nigga," Darius chides. "And get your grandma to stop watching Fox News. Dickhead."

  "A fedora, that's them jawn, like one of them detective hats. It's called a yarmulke, dawg, and he was wearing a fedora," Ty mumbles.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  My face scrunches up, but I'm not sure if it's in offense or laughter. Either way, a weird noise comes up and then slips back down my throat like a wet frog. Either way, they saw that guy too. At least I didn't hallucinate him.

  "You ever see anyone else from Rogue Wave around there? Any of the ones from the news?"

  Costello snorts, letting Darius's words just roll off his back. "Bitch,"

  "Bitch, don't call little girls a bitch. Bitch," Ty corrects him.

  "Will you two get off my fuckin' back? God damn. No, I ain't seen anyone with stupid masks around besides the local capes. I would've recognized that monkey sucker. Anyone in Philly would at this point," Costello continues.

  Darius shoots him a look. "We don't know for sure it's Rogue Wave running things. Are they the only guys who make Jump?"

  I shrug.

  "It's all connected though," Ty insists. "My boy Carlos used to run with the Coyotes, says the Jump dealers all answer to somebody. Like, there's levels to it."

  "Oh, the Coyotes?" I ask, raising an eyebrow, while my hand starts to itch. "Thought they disbanded."

  "Yeah, he got out before the guy running things went crazy. Some baby-cape fucked him up and he went nuts and now he's in jail," Ty continues. "Or so I hear. What's this about that Sunoco, though?"

  "You guys stay away from that place," I say, surprised by the protective instinct in my voice. "It's not just small-time drug dealing going on."

  Darius studies me for a moment. "What are you going to do about it?"

  That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?

  "Working on that," I say, staring at the cigarette like it's gonna bite me. "Got some people who might be able to help."

  "You friends with the Tacony Titans?" Costello asks suddenly. "Or those other ones, the Big Bad Wolf's crew?"

  "Don't them jawns have a name?" Ty asks.

  "Man, I don't fuckin' know. They just go around at night fuckin' up dealers who cross the line or some shit. Batman style. I don't think they want a name,"

  I cut my hand through their conversation. Probably not a good idea to introduce the Auditors by name to them, haha. Would raise too many questions. "I know some of them. The Titans, I mean. Not the other ones."

  "Then why you asking us about this shit? Why not ask them?"

  Fair question. "I'm building a case first. Need to be sure before I bring it to them."

  Darius nods, seems satisfied with that. "Smart. They're busy as hell these days anyway."

  "How so?"

  "Police ain't doing shit in neighborhoods like this anymore," Ty says bitterly. "All focused downtown, protecting the rich folks. Titans and those other hero types are picking up the slack."

  Costello nods. "Saw Bubble stop a carjacking on my block last week. Cops showed up like forty minutes later."

  "Yeah, that sounds like her. But, still, thanks for the info," I say, standing up. "And for meeting me."

  Darius rises too. "You really gonna do something about that place?"

  "Yes," I say, and I mean it. "It might take a little time, but yes."

  He offers his hand, and I shake it. "Good. Neighborhood needs fixing. But a little lady like you, watch out, alright? I can handle getting a little banged up but you look like those neighborhood watch crews would eat you up for breakfast."

  Oh, that makes me want to laugh. But I don't. He means well. I keep the shake firm and businessmanlike. "You too. Maybe keep the smoking to porches for now. I don't think a bunch of white guys with bats really have the best interests of the neighborhood in mind. All a bunch of Patriot-wannabees."

  Ty claps his hands together, a jolt of recognition beaming through him like a lightning bolt. "YOU'RE THAT BITCH!"

  "Now who's--" Costello starts, before Ty knocks him in the shoulder.

  "Dawg, that video like a year ago of Patriot beating some high schooler up at prom or some shit. That's her!" Ty chatters excitedly like a squirrel getting to steal birdseed. "Oh, man, I was wondering what happened to you. You doing alright?"

  "Well, my nose is healed up enough to start getting in people's business again," I laugh nervously, not really used to this sort of attention from civilians. No, not civilians - my neighbors. "So, yeah, I'm okay."

  "Good, man. Fuck that guy," Ty says, clapping me on the shoulder.

  "So what's our next move?" Maggie asks as we gather around the whiteboard, which is now covered in even more notes, photos, and connected threads like something from a TV detective show.

  "I think we've reached the limit of what we can learn through observation," I say. "We've confirmed the location is being used for Jump distribution. We've confirmed yellow jacket guy exists. We've even spotted this mysterious red jacket slash fedora guy who might be higher up in the organization."

  "But we still don't know how it connects to the bigger picture," Tasha points out.

  "Exactly. Which is why I think it's time for Plan B." I look at Lily. "Can you grab my phone and dial 'Lucy' in my contact book?"

  Lily scoots over, shuffling with her butt, over to the coffee table, and punches in my phone unlock code. I hear the gentle tapping and swishing of her stubby fingernails up against the screen, and then, y'know, ring, ring, Lily scuttling over like a crab to elsewhere in the hall.

  While Lily makes the call, Amelia studies our evidence board. "You realize this might just be a small-time operation, right? One dealer in one neighborhood. The real distribution network is probably much larger."

  "I know," I admit. "But it's a start. One thread to pull."

  Lily returns about a minute later, looking cautiously optimistic. "Lucy says she's swamped. Police have basically abandoned their neighborhood patrols in Tacony, so she's been picking up the slack."

  "That tracks with what Darius told me," I say.

  "But," Lily continues, "she thinks she might be able to squeeze in a couple hours tomorrow night. She said, and I quote, 'Better make it count.'"

  "Tomorrow night works," I say, already mentally planning. "We'll bring everything we've got. All the evidence, all the surveillance. If she can help investigate Sunoco building, we might get conclusive proof of what's happening inside."

  "And then what?" Tasha asks. "Assuming she confirms it's a Jump distribution point, what's our plan? We can't exactly raid the place ourselves."

  "One step at a time," I say, though I've been asking myself the same question. "First, we get confirmation. Then we decide how to proceed."

  "Agreed," Amelia says. "And if it is connected to Rogue Wave, we definitely need some help involved. This is bigger than us."

  I nod, though a small part of me bristles at the admission. I've spent so much time trying to prove myself capable, it's hard to acknowledge when something is beyond our reach. But this is about the mission, not my ego. If starting to pull on the thread of this big, fucked up sweater requires some torch-passing, that's... fine by me.

  "So it's settled," I say. "Tomorrow night, we meet with Sundial."

  Maggie grins. "The Auditors and the Tacony Titans, joining forces again. This is gonna be awesome."