“Give me one second,” she said, ignoring his annoyed expression. She raced inside the store and purchased three cartons of cigarettes. Law enforcement relied on cigarettes as bargaining tools. Cigarettes were often used to get a suspect to talk or console a grief-stricken victim. Once, after hours spent trying to talk a suicidal man off the Seventh Street Bridge, all it took to get him to come down was the promise of a carton of Newports.

“I see you’ve learned some things on the job as well,” Christian said.

Becca shrugged and kept walking. “Apparently not enough, or we wouldn’t be here. Ash and I would be finishing our walk around the reservoir and arguing over where to go to brunch, and you, you would be hanging out with your fiancée,” Becca said. The words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself. It wasn’t necessary, but stress often made people petty and small. Christian’s surprise was obvious. She regretted it instantly. “Forget it. What you do in your personal life is none of my business.”

“I planned on telling you. It’s a recent development.”

She didn’t wait for a response, not actually wanting the details about the woman he planned to marry. It was easier to block it all out. Becca picked up the pace as she hurried toward Seventh Street. She couldn’t get caught up in the past. It was all about forward motion and finding Ash.

Thankfully, Christian followed silently as they made their way down San Pedro and over to Fourth Street and toward Alvarado. Becca was focused on talking to as many people as possible, but they had to be strategic. In her time working with the LAPD, Becca created a system in which to categorize the various people she encountered on the streets.

First, there were those on the streets who were simply looking to make a quick buck. They hustled and panhandled, hoping to appeal to people’s altruistic nature or simply guilt them into giving up their cash. These types weren’t exclusive to Skid Row. In fact, they often spent more time and attention in the touristy areas like Hollywood and Venice Beach.

In the second category were people seeking drugs and alcohol, people consumed by their addictions. Perhaps they wound up homeless because of their disease or some other life-altering circumstance. For the most part they were purely motivated by the quest to get more money to fund their addiction.