"Whew!" Teige said loudly just then, and all the birds on Hawk's arms and shoulders went up in a huff, their wings beating irritably around his head. Within seconds they'd all lifted off and away, as Teige sidled up with an armful of hot dogs and full water bottles. Hawk was distracted from the buzzing in his head immediately.

"Bit hot for September, ent it?" Teige said with far too much cheer for just how hot it was. Hawk furrowed his brow deep.

"How many cops do you see?" he asked, taking the paper tray of hot dogs that Teige offered him. Teige glanced up with some surprise.

"Weeeellll!" he said, letting Hawk disentangle one water bottle from the other, "If�that�ent the most you've said since--"

"How many?" Hawk asked again, flashing Teige a glare. Teige's grin faded somewhat into a grimace.

"Jesus, all right, then," he said bracingly, and shaded his eyes, squinting down the boardwalk at the police car. "One."

Hawk stared at him uncertainly.

"She's looking at those wings of yours, though, eagle-eyes," Teige was going on, not seeming to have noticed Hawk's sudden lapse into anxiety. "Maybe she thinks you're cute, eh. Or she's calling for backup," he amended.

"Let's go," Hawk mumbled.