Becca needed to call Christian. Or maybe Nina. One of them could notify Wishard with this lead. That’s what she should do. Then she had a thought—what if Raya’s intel was false? What if this Otis person was full of shit? What if Otis didn’t even exist? All of these things were possible considering Raya’s condition. The last thing Becca wanted to do was sound the alarm. They already thought she was losing it. If she was wrong about this, she’d wind up looking like an idiot. It was best that she got solid evidence. Then she would call someone.

“Raya, what’s the exact address?” Becca asked.

“It’s tricky if you don’t know where you’re going. Lot of folks down there and lots of tents. Might be easier if I show you.”

If Becca didn’t know better, she would think Raya was enjoying this, like she was on some kind of adventure. “Raya, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Becca said. Involving one of her clients in a potentially dangerous personal matter was ethically questionable at best, illegal at worst.

“Why? You gonna call the cops? Have them haul me away?”

That’s what Becca should do. She wouldn’t though. She made the decision in an instant.

“We’ll go down together. You’ll show me and then I’m giving you money to go to a motel so you can get some rest. Okay?” Becca understood that physical stress, including exhaustion, could worsen Raya’s condition.

Raya nodded.

“I just need to get dressed,” Becca said. She paused, eyeing Raya’s stained clothing, and noticing the pungent odor emanating from her.

“I have some clothes you could wear, if you want to take a shower and change?”

Raya’s eyes widened in surprise. “We have time for that?”

“If we’re quick,” Becca said. Raya looked away, swatting at the tears in her eyes so Becca wouldn’t see. She led her upstairs toward Ash’s bedroom.

“Hey, Doc, you might want to wear something a little less…” Raya trailed off.

“A little less what?” Becca asked.

“Less Ann Taylor. Actually, a lot less. The goal is not to draw attention to yourself.”

“Message received,” Becca said with a laugh. In less than twenty minutes. Raya and Becca were dressed and heading out of the house. At approximately seven forty-five in the morning, they arrived downtown. Becca parked in a small pay lot, paying seventeen dollars for the privilege. Raya gestured for Becca to follow her down an alleyway.

“Keep your eyes down and walk with purpose. Don’t make eye contact and try not to walk like you own the sidewalk.”

“I don’t—”

“Yes, you do, which is fine in the real world. Down here people get nervous, and when they get nervous, bad shit happens.”