Twenty minutes later, Christian exited Vine Street and made a right onto Hollywood Boulevard, or “Fanny Pack Boulevard,” as Ash liked to call it. Every major brand name had a storefront here, commerce alive and well. The traffic slowed to a standstill, the streets teeming with sightseers, street performers, and protestors, warning eternal damnation was near.

Becca anxiously scanned the streets, hoping luck would be on her side and she would see Ash in the throng of people. Underneath the pink-and-white Victoria’s Secret sign, she spotted two giggling teenage girls snapping photos with an Edward Scissorhands look-alike, while a rumpled Elmo chatted with a slightly paunchy Superman.

Christian glanced over at Becca. “Parking’s going to be a nightmare. Let’s find a spot and we’ll walk to the shop. It’s just a few blocks up,” he said. Becca focused on the passersby, still anxiously scanning all the faces.

The light turned green and the car lurched forward two inches. Out of the corner of her eye, Becca saw something, her heart dropping. She blinked, not quite believing what she was seeing. Freud! Her boy was here, dozing at the feet of a weathered homeless man in a folding chair, a sign propped up in front of him that read HOMELESS VET NEEDS HAND UP, NOT HAND OUT.

“Christian, over there. There’s Freud. Pull over. Please pull over.”

Christian’s gaze followed hers. “Hold up. Let me find a spot,” he said.

“Chris, he could be gone by then,” Becca said. If Freud was here, Ash might be close by. She couldn’t wait. She couldn’t let her slip away. Becca flung open the car door.

“Becca, don’t,” Christian said, reaching out to grab her. The light turned red. Behind them drivers laid on their horns, shouting obscenities. Becca slipped free from his grasp, shooting him an apologetic look. She darted across the street, zigzagging around a TMZ tour bus and the throng of Uber drivers.

Becca was trying to assess the best course of action on how to approach when she heard Freud’s excited, frenzied bark. He had spotted her, and now his only goal was reuniting with Becca. The man looked over, clocking Becca, and he visibly startled. She wasn’t sure what caused his sudden freak-out. He tossed his sign, grabbed Freud’s leash, and began to run. Freud seemed spooked and followed after him. The last thing Becca wanted to do was scare this man, but she couldn’t let him go. Right now he was her only connection to Ash.