Becca sat back in her seat. Those people. “That’s what this is really about, isn’t it? Those people like Ash and Nate. I mean, if a bunch of Malibu kids wound up murdered, this story would be front-page news. What does it matter if they’re just a bunch of homeless runaways?” Becca said.

Wishard’s eyes flashed with anger. “Dr. Ortiz, I’ll remind you again the information I provided was confidential, so lower your voice. I know you’re upset. You may not think I understand, but I do. But I’m only going to say this once. Please do not interfere in this investigation. What I suggest that you do now is go home. Be with your family.”

All the noise in the diner, the clanging forks, the endless drone of the conversation faded, Becca’s anger building. “Ash is my family. I thought you were serious about wanting to find her.”

“Becca, Joanne’s trying…”

“No, Joanne is sitting there judging me, doing her best to make me feel small and worthless. I don’t know if it’s because you think I give a shit that you’re marrying my ex-husband or if it’s because you’re the same coldhearted bitch who intimidated a terrified five-year-old so you could make an arrest. I don’t know, and I don’t care.” She stood up quickly. Her vision blurred and she grabbed onto the table to steady herself, willing the dizziness to pass.

“Becs,” Christian said in warning.

She ignored him, shooting daggers at Wishard. “All that matters is Ash. Not Ashley. Not my foster daughter. My daughter. And if you think I’m going to stop looking for her or trying to find who did this to her, you are the crazy one.”

Becca turned and rushed out of the diner, refusing to give Wishard the satisfaction of seeing her fall apart. As long as Ash was still out there, Becca was going to do everything she could to bring her girl home.

MO

MO

People rarely surprised Mo. They were actually quite predictable. Take Ash. From the beginning, Mo believed that she was a selfish little bitch. Everything Ash did supported Mo’s hypothesis. Even in the end, that girl refused to acknowledge that it was her own actions that forced Mo’s hand. Perhaps if Ash had been able to step outside of herself, perhaps if she had offered up an apology for sowing discord or tried to make amends, things could have been different. She tried to steal Nate from them, and almost ruined everything.

Mo took a deep drag of her cigarette. Normally she wasn’t a smoker. These past few days had tested her. She winced ever so slightly, her arm tender from where the knife had pierced her skin. “You sure you’re okay?” Vic asked.