Naya nodded in acknowledgment, thinking that his last statement seemed like a joke but she wasn’t actually sure if it was or not. Before she could ask, Atlas sauntered back in the direction from which they had come. Naya stifled a yawn as she lifted her hand and knocked on the door.
“Come in.” Came a baritone voice from the other side.
Naya swung the door open and took note of the Captain as he stood from behind his desk. He was significantly younger than she anticipated, with jet black hair and tanned skin. She presumed he was probably of Hispanic descent and in his mid-thirties. Like Atlas, he was in good shape, a far cry from the two plump, overweight officers Naya had been in charge of in La Junta.
She stuck out her hand as she approached him. “Detective Naya Largusa joining you from La Junta, Sir.”
He shook her hand. “I’ve been expecting you.” He reached into his drawer and placed her weapon, a badge, and the form for them on his desk for her. “I assume you’ve already met your partner and found your desk?”
“Yes sir.” She replied as she deftly inspected her weapon, picked up her badge and signed the document. She slid the weapon into her side holster and the badge into her back pocket. She pulled out her weapons certification from her wallet and passed it to the captain for him to copy.
“No need to call me sir. We’re pretty laid back around here, just call me Captain, Cap, or Brody.” He smiled as he slid her ID through the scanner on his desk. Naya had never seen that technology before and she marveled at how easy it was as a copy of her ID and her personal information appeared on the screen. He handed her documents back to her. “Spend the rest of today getting acquainted with your desk and the office and be ready to answer calls tomorrow.” He gave her a swift once over, taking in her jeans and buttoned up blouse. “I know you had no idea what to expect, but here in Denver I expect my Detectives to dress professionally. No jeans.”
Naya nodded thinking about how this clearly contradicted how he had just said they were laid back in the office. But she wasn’t going to argue on her first day. “Of course, Si-Brody.”
The captain noticed and smiled. “You’ll fit in here in no time. And don’t let the others on the floor scare you, my door is always open. If you have questions, theories or concerns, bring ‘em my way. Just make sure you knock first.”
“I will.” Naya smiled, her question from earlier having been answered, and turned to leave, hesitating outside the door just long enough to toss a quick “Thanks” over her shoulder.
“No problem.” Brody replied and motioned for her to shut the door, which she did.
She made her way back to her desk and began to settle in. She pulled out her phone and opened the email she had received the day before with instructions on setting up her login. the directions were user friendly and straight forward and she was soon effortlessly trapezing through one of the most technologically advanced systems she had ever seen. She definitely wasn’t in La Junta anymore.
Atlas came and went, having conversations with various other coworkers as they passed as well as making frequent trips to the coffee machine for refills. When he was at his desk they would converse a few minutes here and there as she explored the computer system. Before she knew it, it was five o’clock, Atlas rose and put on his jacket.
“You’re free to leave.” He said as he closed his laptop. “We are only required to work nine to five unless we’ve got an active case.”
She nodded. “I know, but I think I’m going to spend a few more minutes exploring this system before I call it a night.”
“Sure thing, see you tomorrow partner.” He tipped his imaginary hat with a grin as he turned and headed for the precinct doors. As soon as he was out of sight, Naya reached for the folders she had slid into the bottom drawer.
Before she left La Junta she had taken copies of the three case files that she couldn’t let go, the only ones she didn’t solve. They were deaths that still haunted her to this day. She quickly flipped through each case file and began to enter their information into the computer system. It didn’t take long, as they were cold cases for a reason and there was little to no evidence. At least now if a similar crime showed up it could flag one of them she reasoned. She logged out of her computer and slid her purse over her shoulder.
She was determined to solve those three cold cases. Even if it was the last thing she did.
CHAPTER 2
NAYA
The drive home was short, thankfully, as she didn’t think she could handle too long in rush hour traffic yet. Coming from a small town it was still a shock to see so many cars on the road every day. Naya knew she had grown up sheltered, and even when she went to college she hadn’t ventured further than Pueblo. Unlike her brother she hadn’t been blessed with a sense of adventure, instead she felt powerful ties to her provincial home.
She parked in the driveway of the modestly sized, rundown, two-story house she now co-habited. Real estate in Denver was expensive, and she was glad her brother’s place had been large enough for her to move in, so she didn’t have to stress about finding something nearby. She slid her key into the worn-down lock and twisted open the
