Sadie went to the counter to set her notes and the listing sheet down. Rent and utilities were absurdly high, but Joanie had told her not to let costs be a deterrent.
She gave Ny a smile. “I’m so glad my future manager could come with me.”
“I wanted to see it, too,” Nyah said.
“What sort of businesses does your group typically invest in?” Lorraine asked.
“Most recently, a food truck,” Sadie said. “That’s what they’re working on today.”
She’d told Nyah the same story. How dealing with pulverized Hot and Cold was tying up Joan and Mark and Perry. In reality, she’d done most of the work yesterday, going around in maddening circles with the insurance company. They wanted her to file a SuperWatch claim first and wait for word on that before making a determination. Good thing she had an in with the Superheroes.
At least all the paperwork was helping her get more comfortable with that part of running her own business. The part she’d always been scared of.
“I’ve been involved with every aspect of that truck since its beginning,” Sadie added. “I’ve learned so much that I can’t wait to implement at my own establishment.”
Look at me, using all the big words.
“I think your coffeehouse would be a welcome addition to Knollwood Village,” said Lorraine.
“Yeah,” Sadie breathed, and snapped a few photos of the main dining area. Then the span of brown brick along the far wall. Then behind the counter. The faint hint of fresh produce still lingered from the former juice bar.
Nyah rested her hands on the right side of the counter. “Would you take orders here or the other side?”
“Hmm.” Sadie joined her to visualize both options. “The other side. Pick-ups can be on this side, closer to the exit.” She took a pic of the big front windows and giggled to herself. “My girlfriend will want to know about the windows.”
She glanced at Lorraine for a reaction. The broker smiled politely. Okay, good, she passed theI have a girlfriendtest. And Joanie would laugh about the windows. Hopefully. As long as she didn’t think they were too much of a hazard. She was so bummed to miss this, but duty called.
A SuperWatch notification dinged on her phone as well as Nyah’s. A verified statement from the Supers about the video Gus had posted that morning. How did she still look amazing in a red-and-gold bodysuit she hadn’t worn in years? Well, she wasAmazingWoman.
“I can’t believe Amazing Woman came back,” Nyah said, reading on her screen. “She’s a thousand years old.”
“Quake is her nemesis. She wants to finally put him away.”
Lorraine tilted her head. “Amazing Woman? As in the Hero from a few decades ago?”
“Yeah. She posted a message earlier today.” Sadie held her phone up to show the broker the replay.
Gus’s short video had been shot against the wall in the lobby at Super HQ. She sounded so much like her old self and less the tired woman she’d become: “I failed you before, Vector City. Big Quake said he’s come back to finish what he started. So have I.”
“Love her throwing shade by calling him Big Quake,” Sadie said.
People still wanted to know what was up with Spark and Ice, and if Breeze was also helping out. The Supers were keeping mum, not willing to own up to how much the three of them were contributing. It was kind of a dick move, but Joanie said she didn’t want to confuse or scare people if they saw Spark running around town.
“Sorry,” Sadie said to Lorraine, slipping her phone into her jeans pocket. “I’m just excited.”
“That’s all right.” Lorraine gave another professional smile. “I’m glad you’re not thinking about starting another food truck. That’s a risky enterprise with so much Supervillain commotion.”
“No kidding.”
“Which reminds me. There’s also the NSA rider attached to the lease you’ll have to sign. Standard language. It’s required for all our tenants.”
“I’m sorry, which rider is that?” Sadie asked, picking up her small notebook.
“The No Superpowered Activity agreement. It ensures you won’t willingly allow superpowers to be used on the premises. Nor will you host any events that feature Superheroes. Autograph signings, appearances, that sort of thing.”
Sadie blinked. Surely, she’d heard wrong. “That’s an actual thing?”
Lorraine’s thin lips tightened. “As you can imagine, those people make working in real estate quite a challenge. Inviting them onto our properties increases the likelihood of damage, which decreases property value.”
