It was getting late, and Lestrade decided to take Jessica home so she could relax. Despite the girl's continued objections and pleas, Lestrade could tell she was scared and didn't want to be alone. Beth tried her best to reassure her, with little success. They left shortly after seven, sneaking out the back exit so Greyson couldn't force anything into Lestrade's hands.

Upon reaching Jessica's apartment they received a terrible shock: the place was in shambles! All of the furniture was tossed about or ripped apart. Volumes of old books were on the floor, torn and dog-eared. Jessica just broke down into tears at the sight. She felt terribly violated. Lestrade involuntarily clenched her fists, then tried comforting her.

"Shhh, take it easy. It's okay, Jess."

"NO! IT'S NOT!" Jessica half-shouted, half-sobbed. Lestrade was at a loss. She wasn't very good at putting people at ease. That was Holmes' job. Suddenly, a young, male voice called into the room.

"Jess! Are you in there? You okay?!" Lestrade looked up to see an American man, apparently Jessica's age and height, looking around in horror at the ruined flat. Catching sight of the distraught girl in the hoverchair he ran over, suddenly fierce.

"Who are you, and what happened to her?" he demanded, eyes blazing.

"Inspector Lestrade, New Scotland Yard." Beth replied, just as angrily. The man's fury towards her died immediately. He looked very apologetic.

"Oh! I'm sorry, officer."

"That's all right. Now, who are you?" Lestrade wasn't exactly one for pleasantries.

"My name's Paul Perez. I'm a friend of Jessica's. We lived in the same area of San Antonio as tots. I came for a visit on the insistence from a pair of her friends here." Jessica suddenly spoke in a trembling voice, interrupting them.

"P-paul, is that really you?"

"Hey, speedy." His voice was low and gentle as he knelt to make eye contact with her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Following the express orders of your pals, Mel and Siggy. They told me that you were in trouble, so I took the Red-eye from Texas right over here.

"Damn those little-" Jessica couldn't seem to find a proper word to describe her friends for a moment. Finally she hit upon a rather nasty one, which made Lestrade and Paul exchange worried glances. Lestrade could count on one hand the amount of times Jess had cursed in her presence.

"Inspector, if it's all right with you, I'd like to take Jessica back to my hotel. I think a change of scenery would be welcome to her."

Fine, but you'll have to wait a few minutes. She doesn't look to be in the sort of condition to be going anywhere.

Both Lestrade and Paul did their best to calm Jess, who was in a state of shock. Paul's manner seemed distant and his brow furrowed in thought, a fact which Lestrade noticed immediately.

"Something wrong, Paul?" He jumped a little, shocked to discover he was so transparent.

"Well, I was trying to think of how to help Jessie."

I've already got someone looking into it." She said gently, seeing his distress at his friend's condition.

"Who?"

"Ever heard of Sherlock Holmes?"

Author's notes: Thanks to Silvarius (when she reads), MaryChristmas, Iara and StarDreams15! And thanks to my beta, Sigerson.