The next day Ben headed for the market to ask some more questions of the staff. Barnaby told him to go unofficially, so he'd worn his plain clothes. Jeans and a red turtleneck sweater. He pulled on his black leather jacket as he headed into the store.

He scanned the employees looking for the manager, but was shocked beyond belief when he saw Sophie standing behind a register. In three strides, he was standing next to her.

"I'm surprised to see you here,"

"Why?"

Jones looked at her. What's she playing at? he thought.

"Because you've just been through a trauma," he said as though it was obvious.

Sophie gave a slight hmmph, but didn't comment further.

"Have you got a minute?" he asked.

Sophie looked around. "As long as my boss is okay with it,"

Jones led her away from the register and towards the back where they could talk in private. However, he found that there were far too many folks walking around them. Instead, they stepped outside, behind the store together.

"I get the feeling you want to talk to me, but you're scared,"

"Of course I'm scared," she hugged herself in the brisk autumn breeze.

"You don't have to be,"

Her eyes welled with tears, "Look at me! I'm barely holding it together here. I can't take much more,"

"Is someone hurting you at home?"

Sophie blinked. "Why would you ask me that?"

"I don't know how you wound up in those woods, or why any of this happened, but I do know someone is hurting you. And has been for a very long time. Don't you want it to end?"

Her face flooded with color, "Of course I do! It's just not that easy,"

"Is your uncle- stepfather, whichever he is hurting you?"

Sophie's chest rose and fell as she internally screamed the answer to Jones. He stepped towards her. On impulse he reached for her hand, and to his surprise she slid her fingers into his grasp.

"I can't say,"

"You just did,"

"I'm scared. He'll kill me. He tried to before. That's why I ran away,"

Her manager swung open the back door. "Sorry copper, but I need Sophie's help up front now,"

As she turned to go inside he gave her fingers one last gentle squeeze and she turned back to him.

"It was you, wasn't it? Who found me,"

"I already told you I was there,"

"No. I mean, it was you. You were the one who saved me. Carried me out of the woods,"

Jones nodded, "Yes, I did,"

"Thank you,"

"Just doing my job,"

Sophie smiled as much as her lip would allow. Jones, not being able to bear having her out of his sight, followed her back inside and to the front register.

"Do you still have my card?" he asked.

"I do,"

"I'll be back later after I've talked to my boss," Jones assured her.

"Don't," she hissed. "If he sees you around too much, it'll mean trouble for me. Please,"

Jones thought for a moment. "Fine, but I'll be back tomorrow. Around the back at noon. How's that?"

She agreed.

With one last look her way, Jones left the market and headed straight for the station.

I'm looking for a place

I'm searching for a face

Is anybody here I know

'Cause nothing's going right

And everything's a mess

And no one likes to be alone

Lyrics: Avril Lavigne