Aslan let out a sigh.

“I was just glad to see you again. I wondered if you were avoiding us.”

That was embarrassing to admit in context. Abdul had lasted a lot longer before she was around again, though.

“You never were the typical woman,” he said with a half-hearted smile. “A lawyer, a doctor, a detective,” he repeated out loud, studying her. “Two of those demand education and a certain anatomy.”

It had been silly to chase the third, but ‘esquire’ sounded like something someone over-compensating would need. And doctor had sounded … well, like someone else. Not exciting enough to a boy who had never knowingly faced life or death yet.

“There are cases that could benefit from a woman’s touch. No one suspects a woman,” he pointed out wryly.