Nate’s voice was rising, his entire body flailing, as if he might be able to levitate off the bed. It wouldn’t be long before a well-meaning nurse or the officer returned to check on him. Becca needed to take control of the situation.

“Nate, listen to me, please listen. There’s no way anyone is going to let you visit Ash. She’s in the ICU at another hospital. But I swear to you she’s safe. I’m here because Mo is threatening to hurt another girl. She’s using her to get to me. This girl didn’t do anything to anyone. In fact, all she’s tried to do is help. I can’t let anything bad happen to her. Please just tell me where I can find Mo,” Becca pleaded.

It took a second for Becca’s words to register. Nate leaned back against the pillows.

“Mo wants something, doesn’t she? That’s why you’re here. She always wants something,” Nate said, understanding Mo’s psychology better than Becca ever could.

“She wants me to bring you to her. That’s won’t happen, of course. You just have to tell me where she is,” Becca said.

“Oh yeah, and then what happens?”

Becca didn’t hesitate. “I get her to confess. Tell me everything she did to Ash and Leslie and the others. How she hurt all of you.”

“Won’t work. Mo’s too fucking smart. She always gets her way. Always.”

“Not this time.”

Nate closed his eyes. She didn’t blame him for not trusting her. Becca shifted anxiously, eyeing the door, knowing time was running out. Don’t rush him, Becca. Don’t rush him.

“I want to go with you.”

“There’s no way. You’re recovering from an overdose, not to mention you’re in police custody,” Becca said.

“I thought you worked with the cops. Can’t you pull some strings?” Nate asked. Even before Becca’s suspension this would have been difficult. At this point it was impossible.

“I’m so sorry. I can’t, Nate. It’s too dangerous.”

“Now you’re worried about my safety?”

She winced. “If you tell me where she is, I promise no one else will get hurt.”

Nate sighed heavily, weighing his options. “There’s a motel on Temple called the Boulevard Inn. It’s where Mo would go every now and then to shower or recharge. She always stays in the last room near the back of the motel. She says it’s the quietest.”

You can take the woman out of Malibu, but you can’t take Malibu out of the woman, Becca thought. She wished she could find the right thing to say to take away Nate’s pain. Only time would ease that.

“I have to go, Nate. But you don’t deserve any of this. I hope you know that.”