Naya agreed and turned to leave the room. “I don’t think there anything more I need from here.” Lynn’s whole body relaxed as the words left Naya’s mouth. It was clear that she was uncomfortable with Naya in her daughter’s room.
As they were going down the stairs, Atlas was on his way up. Their eyes met and Naya shook her head.
“Alright Mrs. Charles, thank you for your cooperation, the two officers here are going to stay with you in case she comes back. Please do your best to stay off the phone lines that your daughter would be the most likely to call in case she tries to get through. Detective Largusa and I are going to start searching and we will check in later today, alright?”
Lynn nodded and yawned. She was visibly tired but probably wouldn’t sleep, a fear of missing something and nerves to be sure. Naya just hoped this case would be a classic case where the teen girl shows up in the morning and was just goofing off, but something about it didn’t feel right.
After agreeing to meet back at the station Naya and Atlas headed to their respective cars. She yawned as she slid behind the wheel, she was going to need to stop for a coffee on her way, because at this rate it was going to be a long night.
CHAPTER 5
NAYA
Naya startled awake as her phone buzzed on the bunk beside her. She grabbed it as she sat up and tried her best to straighten her work clothes while letting her eyes gradually focus on the screen. “Hello?” she sighed.
“Hello, Ms. Largusa? This is Home Health Care and my name is Mary. I am just calling to let you know we have found a placement for you. Would it be possible for you to meet him sometime this evening?”
Naya glanced at her watch, it was only eleven, but she had been at the precinct since before three in the morning. She was sure she would be permitted to go home for at least an hour at some point. “Yes, would five work?”
There was silence where the representative clearly muted Naya to consult with someone. “Yes, it does. His name is Derek, he will be at the address you gave us at five then?”
“Perfect. Thank you, have a good day.” Naya started to pull the phone away from her ear to hang up.
“Oh and Ms. Largusa?” interjected Mary.
“Yes?” She put the phone back to her ear.
“Keep in mind that we want him to be a good fit for you. If you don’t think he will work out please let us know, and we can try someone else.”
“Of course, thank you.” Naya replied as they both said their goodbyes and she finally got to hang up. Vance had always been an easy-going guy and Naya doubted he would put up much of a fight, just about anyone would be fine.
She smoothed her hair, pulled it back and glanced in the mirror by the door. She was a wreck, but when she had gone to take a nap an hour ago, the young Julia Charles had still been missing.
When she opened the sleep room door she was greeted by mass chaos in the precinct. People were darting every which way shouting and gesturing. Naya scanned the room for Atlas. She didn’t have to look hard because he was making a beeline for her, she met him halfway and they headed towards their desks.
“Good, you’re up. I was coming to get you.”
“What happened?” She quickly turned and grabbed her jacket from her chair. She would kill for a coffee right now but doubted there would be time. And the look on Atlas’ face told her he did not have good news.
“They found a body.”
Naya felt her shoulders drop. “Crap.”
Atlas nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”
They pulled up behind the coroner’s van on the side of a dirt road. They were in the eastern part of the state, almost an hour drive from Denver. The area was mostly farm land and consisted almost entirely of open fields and you could go miles without seeing a person. Definitely an easy place to dump a body without being seen. She could see several police cruisers on the other side of the road. Clouds covered the glittering sun, giving the entire scene a somber feel as Naya stepped from the passenger seat and took in her surroundings.
There was a ditch running along one side of the road and an embankment on the other, the embankment was covered with grass and held a fence marking the property line of whoever’s land it was. About twenty feet ahead of them a man was standing next to a red pickup truck, Naya was willing to bet that this was his property. She and Atlas walked a little ways into the field to where the crime scene techs were huddled. She pulled up Julia’s picture on her phone and held it up, for herself and Atlas. Unfortunately there was a strong resemblance.
“It looks to be her.” He said solemnly.
“I agree.” Naya whispered.
The techs looked busy, she didn’t want to disrupt them. She glanced back at the farmer a few paces ahead of them, on the road. “I’m going to go talk to him, we can get the details from these guys later.” She nudged Atlas.
He nodded and followed her.
“Hello!” Naya called once they were back on the road, the man turned towards them and waved as they approached. They quickly made introductions and it turned out that the man was a farmer as she had suspected most in the area would be. He had a local plot on which he
