Stella has, thus far, been content to stand on the sidelines and let Graves deal with the crowd. Graves is an adult and can handle this, she thinks, like an adult. He'd asked her to step in if anyone threatened Credence, but so far, people seem to be in agreement that Credence is a victim, not an enemy, so she's held her peace. She's still in emergency management mode, alert for threats, but — no one here is a threat. There's some disbelief, confusion, a little anger and a lot of fear, but those are all perfectly normal reactions to a situation with so many unknowns. Graves had explained a bit more to her and Peggy than he seems to be willing to reveal to the rest of the villagers — and it's not her job to do that for him — but Stella's far from fully understanding exactly what's gone on. Right now, though, they're effectively in a crisis situation with a destroyed building and several injured, and Stella is keeping her focus on the here and now, withholding her personal questions and judgment for later, taking her own anxiety and worry and stifling them. She's got decades of practice at not letting her emotions overcome her rational thinking.

Not everyone is quite so practiced, however, and that's quickly becoming clear as Stella listens to Kate Kelly from a few feet away. Kate Kelly, who made it quite clear on her last and only one-to-one conversation with Stella that she has a poor history with police — Graves may not know that, Stella realizes suddenly — but who is also, at the moment, a scared young woman lashing out at the nearest target for her feelings. Stella thinks she knows what Graves might be thinking — that he doesn't have time or emotional energy to waste on trying to placate her, and it's clear enough there's some level of distrust between them. Stella and Kate aren't exactly what one would call friends either, but... someone needs to say something here, because the don't kill him has the ring of deep-seated fear, and, Christ, they're talking across each other without actually communicating anything at all.

"Miss Kelly." Politely, only raising her voice enough to be heard by Kate and Graves and the people nearest them. She meets Kate's eyes without flinching, her demeanor calm and measured. "I can't speak for Mr Graves, but as far as I'm aware, no one is going to be killed."

She doesn't step any closer, or reach out physically; that could be too easily read as manipulation. "I know you're afraid. We all are," she says, a simple acknowledgement, not a judgement or a dismissal. "And I think I can speak for everyone here when I say we'd all like to help Credence. I think he'll need the help of those who care for him, once he's safe. But whatever it is that's done this to him—" She's not going to call it magic yet, not aloud, at least. "—is out of the realm of most of our experience."

Stella pauses, takes in a breath, and continues, "I can't tell you not to be angry." She wouldn't, even if she could. No matter how irrational Stella might think they are, Kate has a right to her feelings. "But I think it might be best to listen to Mr Graves, for the time being. He is from Credence's world."

She has no idea if any of that will actually help — but maybe, something there will get through.