“School Boards United took a lot of downtown,” Standish reads off, “nobody expected them there, I guess, but they ceded the southeast suburbs to the Budget Committee. Can’t get a straight word from up north. Far as we know, Little Seoul and the other enclaves are still in dispute.”

“Not much time, Madam Commissioner,” says Milo, pulling his ear absently. “Is Planning and Zoning going to get in on the turf wars or not?”

Instead of answering, Beretta scoots her cup off the guardrail. Carp scatter from its shadow as it falls. Go ahead, she wants to tell them, breathe coffee.