Chapter Two

The short rotund woman could've passed for a prison guard in a bad 'B' movie, and she was not happy. "You're the new social worker?" she snapped with a disapproving glance.

"That's me," Jaime said cheerfully.

"Let me guess - another do-gooder from Berkley, right?"

"UCLA, actually," Jaime fibbed, drawing on the info in her cover file. "Name's Jessie Lind."

"Well, la-dee-da for you."

Jaime was not deterred that easily. "And you are...?"

"Your new boss...if you can cut it here, which I doubt."

"Are you gonna tell me your name or do I get to decide what I feel like calling you?"

"So you do have a backbone. You'll need it here - that's for sure."

"Is it that bad?" Jaime asked.

"The ones who need help the most will push you away the hardest...or they just disappear without a word."

"Oh? Does that happen a lot?"

The woman shrugged and waddled back to her desk. "Some are too proud - or too angry - to accept our help. Some, I'd imagine, find jobs on their own and simply lose touch. Others...I just don't know."

"I'd like to help you change that," Jaime offered.

"A nice dream, Sweetie, but this is reality: it's rough, it's ugly and it'll eat you and that Pollyanna attitude alive."

"Look, Lady, I'm no Pollyanna." It wasn't an act; Jaime was thoroughly annoyed. "I'm here, ready to roll up my sleeves and give this job - and these people - everything I've got. Now, if you don't want my help, I will happily apply for reassignment to a different district."

"That won't be necessary," her new boss asserted. "You've got guts and I like that. Jessie, is it? My name is Sarah - Sarah King. Welcome aboard."

While Jaime was working her way into Sarah's good graces, Steve began forging a place for himself in the invisible community that lived below LA's bridges, overpasses and railroad trestles. Nothing could've prepared him for what he was about to see or the people he was about to meet. He had walked on the moon, spent several sessions aboard SkyLab and traveled through more countries than he could begin to count, but now he was about to get his first look at a world he'd never even known existed. His ticket inside came in the form of a tall, lanky stranger named Benny. Unsure of exactly where it was that he should be, Steve hopped up onto a low wall to watch the passersby for any clues.

"You're new here," a voice observed. The young man approached from behind and plunked himself down on the wall next to Steve.

"Yup," Steve told him. "New city for a new start...I hope."

"Got a place yet?"

"No money. Guess you could say I'm wingin' it."

"That your stuff?" the stranger asked, nodding toward the small duffel bag at Steve's feet.

"Yeah. I'm travelin' pretty light; easier that way." Steve eyed the young man carefully. He was a very tall young black man who appeared to be in his late twenties. A little too friendly perhaps, but Steve needed a guide and this man had conveniently presented himself.

"There's a bunch of us that stay under the trestle just down the street. It's sorta noisy but it's 'home'. Couple of good diners nearby - they throw out the good stuff. Good group there, too. You can trust 'em."

"Sounds good," Steve replied. "I'm Kevin."

"Benny. Let's go, then."

Less than a block down the road, the sidewalk dipped and then ended. Benny led Steve down a steep graveled incline into a sort of cavern, sheltered on two sides by the sharp hills and overhead by multiple sets of tracks. An old metal barrel with a grate over the top sat nearly dead center in the encampment, with rolled and wadded up blankets, packing boxes and a couple of small patched pup tents scattered around the outer circle.

Steve dropped his duffel bag to the ground, more than a little shocked at his first glimpse of 'home'.

A few miles away, a man known only as Roger patted his pocket, assuring himself that he still carried his precious cargo. It was so tiny, so very complicated-looking and he had absolutely no idea what it was, but by God, he still had it - as instructed. He also had absolutely no idea he was only minutes away from becoming John Doe #6.

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