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to be much use stopping one if they came after Raven.
    As she got within twenty feet of them, he noticed that Raven was carrying a clutch handbag, which was bulging at the seams. Maybe she was packing. He wouldn’t have blamed her.
    She slowed as she reached him and put out a hand towards him. ‘Mr Lock?’
    Lock’s hand engulfed hers, but she shook with a firmness of grasp that surprised him. ‘I’m sorry we have to meet under these circumstances,’ he said. ‘How are you holding up?’
    Raven shrugged.
    He kept his eyes on her face. Not looking at a woman’s breasts, or lack thereof, was the quickest way of building rapport with a young, attractive female client.
    ‘You Googled me on the way over, right?’ Raven said.
    ‘Why do you say that?’ Lock asked her, slightly taken aback at her directness.
    ‘The way you just looked at me. Guys who know who I am usually act weird when they meet me. Either they’re super aggressive if they’re with their buddies or they act like it’s their first day at grade school and their mama forgot to pick them up at home time. But you, you’re different. You’re trying to give the impression that I’m like any regular person.’
    Lock smiled. ‘You’re not?’
    She shook her head. ‘Now you’re taken aback that I’m not a bimbo. You know, people think because I use my sexuality to make a living that it’s the only thing I have going for me. Am I right, Mr Lock?’
    Lock smiled again. ‘I wouldn’t know.’
    She turned to the cop standing behind her. ‘This is Lawrence Stanner from the TMU.’
    Stanner and Lock shook hands.
    ‘Lawrence can fill you in on what they know about the creep who’s stalking me,’ Raven said.
    Lock registered the use of the detective’s first name.
    ‘Actually, I can’t,’ Stanner interrupted. ‘We have an active homicide investigation running here.’
    Lock nodded. ‘I understand.’ He could work on the information-sharing once they’d established what his role would be, if any.
    An EMS ambulance nudged past them in no particular rush, its siren silent.
    ‘So, you want me to make sure you come to no harm while the police find this guy?’ he asked. He was waiting for Stanner to bristle at the suggestion that the LAPD’s role might be usurped, but Stanner didn’t react at all, save to run a hand through his Brillo pad mesh of tight black curls.
    ‘Got it in one. Now,’ Raven said, opening her clutch purse and pulling out a brick of dollar bills still bound by the white paper bank seal, ‘here is your first week’s payment.’ She hesitated for a moment. ‘If that’s acceptable?’
    Lock did his best not to show any surprise at the block of money. ‘You always carry this kind of cash around?’ he asked her. There was probably close to ten thousand dollars in the brick.
    ‘Usually I’m holding singles,’ Raven said, the corner of her lips threatening a smile. ‘I mean, this is enough, right?’
    Lock took a few steps back, careful to maintain eye contact with her. ‘Look, I can save you most of that money. Go get yourself a first-class plane ticket. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going. Buy a ticket last minute to New York. Then get on another flight to Europe. Go see the Vatican. Get drunk in Ireland. Eat snails in France. But get out of here until the police have done their job.’
    Raven closed her eyes, her face suddenly tired. ‘I wish I could do that, believe me. But it’s not an option. I have responsibilities here.’
    ‘Ms Lane,’ said Lock. ‘Your main responsibility is to stay alive. Any other responsibilities you may have can’t be dealt with if you’re not breathing.’
    Raven checked her wrist watch. It was a Cartier. It looked like a real one too, not a Hong Kong knockoff you’d find in LA markets. Lock had priced one at Christmas for Carrie, but even with business booming, the amount had scared him off. She looked at him and Lock found himself drawn by the soft violet tone of her eyes.