“I thought he already saw the doctor and they were processing his admission.”

Becca didn’t miss a beat. “It’s a secondary screening.”

The nurse shrugged and waved Becca in. “Fine by me. Not sure how much you’ll get out of him. The drugs have probably kicked in already.”

Becca forced a smile, her heart sinking. She understood that it was standard protocol to sedate Hopper if he was agitated or combative. The drugs would significantly diminish Hopper’s ability to talk and even focus. That didn’t mean she was going to walk away without trying. She just needed to keep her expectations low. Becca entered the room, knocking gently on the door.

“Hopper,” she said softly. The man’s eyes popped open.

“What the fuck do you want?” he mumbled. The Haldol numbed him, made him looser, though there was a bit of fight left in him.

“Hopper, I need to find Ash. If you have any idea where she’s gone?”

He blinked again, shifting in bed, straining against the cuffs. “Girl’s probably long gone. Said she was catching a bus. Leaving this godforsaken city.”

“Taking a bus? Did she say to where?”

He shook his head, his wild gray mane trembling in response. “Ain’t said, and I didn’t ask.”

“She asked you to take the dog. Did she say why?” Becca asked.

Hopper didn’t respond, his eyes wandering around the room aimlessly as if he were struggling to focus. Becca gently shook him. “Mr. Jenkins, why did Ash leave my dog with you?”

“I told that girl she was crazy. Ain’t no reason to be hanging out on the streets. Especially with the group of hoodlums. I tried to warn her. Told her to stay away from them. Stay the fuck away. She wouldn’t listen.”

Becca didn’t understand. “What group of hoodlums? What are you talking about?”

“She was too smitten to see those people are fucking crazy,” Hopper said.

“Nate? Is this the boy? Is this who you’re talking about?” Becca asked, fumbling in her bag for her phone. She pulled up the photo and showed it to him. Hopper blinked and then nodded, waving the phone away.

“That’s him. That’s him. I told that girl he was trouble, but he ain’t the one you need to watch out for. That tattooed freak was trouble. But it was the old broad I kept clear of. She’s the devil. Sure as I sit here that woman is as evil as they come. I told your girl to watch out for her and the entire Tribe. They’re bad fucking news.”

“The Tribe? Who is the Tribe?”

“No one’s paying attention to what happens out there. No one gives a shit. All I know is if your girl crossed them, it’s all over for her.”