“Do what you’ve gotta do,” Raya said.

“I’m also going to search you for weapons, and cuff you. You’re not under arrest. This is just a safety precaution while we remove you from the premises. Okay?”

“Yeah. I know how this all works. Doc, you can tell this broad I’m not some kind of a troublemaker,” Raya said. Becca gave Nina an encouraging nod, watching as she patted Raya down and cuffed her.

Mental illness had stolen so much from this young woman. Even now the law was treating her like a criminal even though she’d never even committed a crime. She understood why this was necessary and respected the rules, even if she didn’t always agree with them.

Once Raya was properly secured, Nina and the officer led Raya out, Becca by her side. As they headed down the sidewalk toward the cruiser, Raya spotted her mother. She strained against Nina and the cuffs.

“Mama, don’t do this,” Raya pleaded.

Mrs. Parsons’s mind was made up. She turned her back on Raya and slipped inside the house, shutting her daughter out with the slam of the door. Becca patted Raya’s arm. “If it’s okay with you, we’d like to place you in the squad car while I search for an available bed.”

Raya shrugged, the fight drained from her. She allowed Nina to place her in the back of the cruiser and leaned her head against the headrest, her eyes closing as exhaustion overtook her.

The other cruiser was already speeding off, the officers heading to another crisis unfolding in the city. Nina resumed her spot in the driver’s seat, already radioing dispatch with a report of their status. Becca leaned against the hood of the car, feverishly texting her contacts. Securing housing for the mentally ill required charm and a whole lot of luck. Fortunately, the Fates were with her today. Within a few seconds, her phone buzzed. Andrew from St. Paul’s Mission, one of Becca’s contacts, was the first to text back. Got a bed for you.

Becca smiled. This was what she loved most about the job. She understood that this was a short-term solution for Raya’s long-term problem. At least for tonight, this young woman would have a warm, safe place to stay. Becca knocked on Nina’s window. In response, Nina stepped out of the car.

“Victory is mine,” Becca said. Her smile faded with one glance at Nina. On the job, Nina’s poker face was the best in the department. Outside of work, it was total crap.

“There’s been… an incident,” Nina said.

It was Ash. “What happened? Is she okay?”

“I received a call from Northeast. An undercover busted Ash in the Silver Lake Reservoir. Said she was trying to score.”

Nina’s words landed like a grenade. Trying to score. Trying to score. Becca’s knees wobbled, and she leaned against the car to steady herself. Nina reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Becca’s shoulder.

“I talked to the arresting officer. He said he’d meet us at the station. I know this guy. He’s kind of a dick, but a real company man. He said he would hold off on booking ’til we get there. Good news is I’m so charming and persuasive, we’ll get him to drop the charges. No problem.”