Praying silently, wondering at the fury and whether or not there was something else at the bottom of Garrett’s rage, Oliver followed Garrett back to the car.

–––

It was after 2:30 p.m. before Agent Bass and Tess got his witness, Roberta Impala, aka Chevy, comfortably, if reluctantly, ensconced in Faith’s Place. The girl was small and slight, but there was a strength about her that surprised Tess. Nothing about her posture or attitude said victim. She had long, brown, smooth and sleek hair pulled back into a ponytail. It shone as if she spent a lot of time brushing it. She wore dark tights and a hoodie with Denver emblazoned across the front. She had with her a backpack of belongings and a new Kindle Bass had given her. She was discouraged from using the Internet at all, and Bass requested Bronwyn purchase any books that Chevy requested.

There was also a simmering petulance that Tess sensed in the girl. She was wound tight with anger and frustration. Her large brown eyes, her expression, and her entire visage looked more mature than eighteen years, and that saddened Tess. Chevy’s youth had been stolen from her. In spite of how together she looked, how much unobservable damage was present and permanent? And surprisingly, Chevy was not happy with the situation she was now in.

“I’m going from one prison to the next,” she groused.

“We’ve been through this,” Bass said soothingly. “You’re doing the right thing, and with luck, it will all be over soon, and you’ll have your life back.”

Chevy gave him a look filled with teenage cockiness and then announced that she was tired and wanted a nap.

Bronwyn showed her to her room. When she came back out, she shot a bemused glance Tess’s way.

“You might have your hands full,” Tess said.

“I can handle it,” she said with a smile. “Nothing like a teenage girl to electrify a home.”

Tess gave a wry smile before her attention was directed elsewhere.

“She’s tucked away safe and sound. Why is there a need for me to stay here as well?”

The protest was coming from Alonzo’s partner, Mia Takano, a small, compact woman. Tess could read the agent’s tense body language.

“Mia, we’ve had this discussion before.” Bass pulled her to the side. Tess tried not to eavesdrop, but she bet the issue was that the assignment was basically glorified babysitting, and Takano did not want to be stuck out in the wilderness like this. Takano thought Bass was overreacting, that there was no need to keep the witness away from the US Marshals.