Becca tried to tell herself Hopper was just a rambling, sick old man, but what if he wasn’t? “Do you know where these people are? Where I can find them? Please, Hopper.”

“I ain’t no snitch. I start running my mouth, and they’ll come for me,” he said. He turned his head, the bravado fading. Now he seemed like a tired, old man who had run out of fight.

“Hopper, please… tell me what you know.” She reached out to shake him.

“Becca, what the hell are you doing?” Nina’s sharp-edged voice startled Becca. She grimaced as she swung around to find Nina, mouth open wide, her nostrils flaring, her irritation bubbling over.

“Have you lost your goddamn mind? You can’t be in here.”

She took Becca by the elbow and led her out into the hall, away from Hopper. Becca tried to explain. “Nina, he said Ash was hanging with dangerous people.”

“He’s medicated up the wazoo. He could have said Ash was the long-lost daughter of Elvis Presley or that she’d been abducted by aliens. I swear, Becca, did you not hear a damn word I said earlier?” Nina practically shouted, a passing orderly eyeing her with concern. She stopped herself. “I’m not here to scold you. Christian’s waiting. He needs to talk to you.”

Nina’s voice was sharp and shrill, her tone leaving no room for argument. She darted another glance at Hopper and followed Nina back to the exam room where Christian was waiting.

“Any news on Ash? Or from the pawnshop?”

“He confirmed that he saw Ash earlier today. She sold him a few pieces, your grandmother’s engagement ring and some turquoise jewelry.” Becca wasn’t going to get emotional over this news.

“What else, Chris? Nina said you needed to speak with me.”

He nodded. “I got a call from a friend… a homicide detective in Venice.”

She studied Christian, the rote way he spoke to her, the kindly yet slightly vacant expression. Becca called it his LAPD pose, honed from years of delivering terrible news to family members.

“They found a body near the pier,” he said.

A body. They found a body. The roaring in Becca’s head returned. Christian continued. “It’s too soon to get an ID and it’s… it could be difficult because the girl suffered serious injuries to her face and neck, but she’s a brunette and the size and weight are a match.”

Becca couldn’t quite process what Christian was saying. “A match? A match for what?”

“Becca, we’re not sure…” Nina’s voice wavered, but she continued. “You need to prepare yourself for the possibility that this girl… that this might be Ash.”

BECCA

BECCA