“I realize it’s a little late,” Takano said, “but I’m paying closer attention now. I don’t want anything to happen to Chevy or the case.” She apologized to Tess for freaking out and screaming into the market parking lot.

Chevy was still froggy and apparently still under the illusion that Cyrus Beck was somewhat of a good guy. When Tess got up to leave, Dr. Peel stopped her and asked that she speak to Chevy.

“You’ve seen what happens to young women victimized by monsters like Beck—just tell her what you know.”

This was something Tess dreaded because in her experience, there was nothing worse than a petulant female teen who thought she knew everything. But Tess was a team player.

“I don’t want another lecture,” the girl said, studying her fingernails instead of looking at Tess.

Tess sat across from the girl. “I don’t want to give a lecture. Just want to give you my perspective.”

The girl took a noisy, bored breath.

“I’m a cop. Cyrus Beck is a criminal. You are a victim. You have the power here. You can put Beck in jail. But make no mistake: he’ll do everything in his power to keep you from testifying, including kill you if he gets the chance.”

“You don’t know him.”

“There you’re wrong. I do know him. He’s a man who victimizes people weaker than himself to satisfy his own appetites. He never cared for you, Chevy. He used you. There’s a big difference.”

23

Not certain if anyone got through to the girl, Tess headed back to the station, still bothered by the very public incident. The idea of protective custody was to protect, and in Chevy’s case to hide, a subject from bad people.

Oliver thought she was being overly paranoid. Was she?

Tess settled behind her desk and woke up the computer. She tapped on the keyboard and decided that no, she wasn’t being overly paranoid. The rumors Bronwyn had shared about Beck still lingered in the back of her mind. He was a man with a lot of money. And besides the fact that Bass brought Chevy here because he was afraid Beck would discover the location of a standard safe house, he also believed that Beck had at least one hit man, or enforcer, on his payroll. It went without saying that men who killed for money were without scruples. Add a lot of money to that and Tess would bet her service weapon there were plenty of people looking for Chevy. And when they found her, they’d kill her and anyone else who got in the way.