You Can't Run

by Hope E. Davis

  Atlas went inside to ask for the tapes while Naya watched the people meandering on the street. It seemed fairly active and it was daylight. How did no one notice a woman getting abducted?

  She sighed, she knew exactly how. There were countless stories of women being drugged and then people on the street thinking the woman was just drunk and with her boyfriend. It was possible he was drugging these girls. It was also possible that he was threatening them and they appeared to be going willingly. People were not as observant as one would think.

  Atlas came out and stood right next to her, placing a cup of gas station quality coffee in her hand.

  “Really? Coffee?” She laughed as she took a sip.

  “I felt bad for the guy, doesn’t seem like he has much business around here. Cameras are fake by the way. Well, they are real, but he didn’t have the money to hook them to anything. He says it still helps deter crime though.”

  Naya grumbled as she took another sip. “I guess we better find out who monitors those apartment building cameras, and fast.” Naya looked at her watch and grimaced. Her parents would’ve arrived in Denver by now, and they were probably on their way to spend time with Vance. She felt bad that she couldn’t be there, but there was no way she could leave the case now. With a sigh she sent a quick apology text to both her mother and Vance, promising to catch up with them later in the week.

  “I haven’t had a case this bad in a long time.” Atlas muttered as they started walking down Blake street.

  “Me neither.” Naya replied, mentally shuddering at the memory of the children whose cases she had been thinking about the night before.

  “I don’t like it.”

  Naya could tell he meant something more than what he was saying. They turned a corner and began looking around the area for more cameras as they went.

  “There’s too many loose ends in this case. We’re missing something. Or…I don’t know, but something isn’t right.”

  Atlas was right but she didn’t know what either. Naya pulled out her phone and began noting the cameras on the block, she noticed Atlas was doing the same, they could compare notes later. They would find out where this girl had run. Her own run from the night before came back to her and then it hit her like a brick wall. She stopped dead in her tracks.

  “Wait.”

  Atlas turned and stared, waiting.

  “The boyfriend.” She choked out, her mind spinning at a million miles a minute while she tried to keep up. She began walking back towards the building and Atlas followed although he was clearly confused.

  “He mentioned Alia used an app to track her runs. Instead of going off on a wild goose chase, let’s just find out which one and contact the company to see if we can get the records.”

  Atlas shook his head with a smile on his face, visibly pissed he didn’t think of that but also pleased she had. As she ran up the stairs to talk to the boyfriend about which app his girlfriend used, Atlas stayed in the lobby and was already on the phone asking for a warrant to be drafted. She met Atlas back down at the bottom of the stairs.

  “She uses RunTracker.”

  He cocked his head.

  “I use it too. It’s actually quite convenient, you just turn it on, and it tracks your run as you go, giving you updates right in your ear…” More thoughts hit her, a theory coming together.

  “Maybe Julia and Shanice used similar apps?”

  Atlas hit redial. “I’ll have a warrant created for each girl. Contact the Woods and Charles families and find out what apps those girls used.”

  “On it.” Naya was already dialing her own phone.

  Now they were getting somewhere.

  CHAPTER 18

  MARK

  This new girl was also a dud. He could already tell. Nothing had happened.

  He was pretty sure she had just died.

  He groaned loudly as he stood to look out the window. He looked out and saw the pretty little detective standing on the sidewalk next to who he assumed was her partner.

  Originally, he hadn’t wanted to take her because it seemed a bit risky, most of the girls he grabbed were easily forgotten.

  The detective would be missed.

  But the more he looked at her, the more perfect he thought she was. And he knew she was a runner.

  With a grin on his face, he sat in his chair and spun towards his computer. He began mapping out just how and when he would grab the detective. It would take a while, that was unfortunate. But it would be much easier than all of his other abductions.

  The grin wouldn’t leave Mark’s face. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of this sooner. It was perfect.

  With a chuckle he slid open the top drawer of the desk and pulled out his secret weapon.

  A key to the cute little detectives’ front door. And he didn’t even have to steal it.

  With a glance at the clock, he realized he would be late for work unless he left right now. He hated his stupid job. He slid on his work clothes and checked the girl once more for a pulse. Nothing.

  Dead.

  Well. She could hang here for the day then, he would deal with her when he got back. He slid the detective’s key into his pocket and peeked at the mirror that hung by the door. He was tiring of this disguise, but it was the one the detective knew him as.

  That would be a positive of getting rid of the detective. He could change his look. Yes. This plan was looking more and more attractive with each passing minute

  “You’d better watch out Detective Largusa. I’m coming for yah.” He winked at the end, which made him chuckle. He really was hilarious.

  CHAPTER 19

  NAYA

  The second breakthrough came after lunch. They were at their desks digging through side leads while they waited for the camera footage to come back when it happened.

  “Ah-ha!” Atlas jumped up from his chair, excitement all over his face.

  “What?!”

  “I found out more information about our little farmer friend.”

  “Mr. Rodgers? What is he up to this time?” Naya crossed her legs one over the other and leaned back. She couldn’t believe how tired she was, but it had already been quite the day.

  “So, Mr. Rodgers tried to buy Old Dave’s farm when he was alive but ill. The man must’ve said no, because then he called the records department to find out if Old Dave had any family. My guess is he wanted the man reported as senile.”

  “And they noted the call?” Naya was surprised, the records department usually didn’t care that much.

  “That’s the thing. He called so many times, trying to pose as so many different people to get the information. But that’s the thing, there was no information to get. It didn’t matter if he was Dave’s brother or neighbor or wife.” He chuckled at the last one. “But you’re right, the records department just shrugged it off and didn’t make a note or think to call us, because why would they? But then today when I called and asked for records on Benjamin Rodgers’ property the lady was surprised and mentioned it, because the records were still on her desk. He had called so many times that she had made a mental note of him for the girl who works on her day off.”

  “And…”

  “Well, here’s the deal, turns out that besides Dave’s farm, Benjamin Rodgers owns all those properties out there. There is no third farmer. It’s just him. And I bet that’s where he’s hiding out right now.”

  Naya sighed, the answer had been staring them in the face all along. She glanced at her watch and noticed it should, on a normal day, be almost time to clock out. Her family would be upset if she missed dinner.

  Nothing escaped Atlas’ notice. “You need to go?”

  “Yes, but let’s go. We can drive separately, I’ll leave for home from there.” She slid on her jacket and grabbed her keys.

  Atlas put a hand on her shoulder. “You know this job doesn’t have to be your whole life, right? I can ask another detective to go with me.”

  She shook her head, the case from her pa
st surfacing again. “No. This is something I need to be there for. My family will understand.”

  “You know you only have one family right?” He asked somberly.

  Naya nodded. She was well aware. The pain of Vance’s unfortunate future making her heart stop for second. She shrugged off the feeling. These girls had families too. And there was no later for them any longer.

  As soon as she got to the car, she attached her phone to Bluetooth and dialed her mom, following Atlas out of the parking lot as the phone rang. After a few rings her mom answered.

  “Hey Mom.”

  Her mom audibly sighed. “Let me guess, you aren’t going to make our six-o-clock dinner reservations?”

  Naya frowned. Now she felt even more guilty. “I have one more thing I need to do mom, think you can hold the boys off until eight? I’ll meet you at the restaurant.”

  “Of course Naya, but if I’m changing the reservation you better be there.”

  Naya grimaced again. Her mom knew her all too well.

  “I will mom. I’m just driving to interview a man real quick, and then I will head straight there.” She heard laughing in the background of the phone call that didn’t sound like her Dad or Vance. “Who’s there?”

  “Oh!” Her mom seemed surprised she noticed. “Well Vance’s friend Kevin came over, he really is quite the sweetheart, and Elliot or Derek? I can’t remember which is which, is still here.”

  Naya she still hadn’t met Elliot. “Were both of them there today?”

  “This morning, yes, I guess there were a few more things to go over. Just one is here now though, and like I said, I forget which one exactly.”

  She rolled her eyes, it was typical of her mom to forget names. “Can you find out for me mom? That way I don’t look like an idiot later?” She tried to remember the schedule Home Health Care had given her, but her brain was too tired to function.

  “Yeah, no problem dear. I’ll ask and then call the restaurant, okay? I’ll text you if I’m able to move the reservation.”

  “Thanks mom.”

  “Okay see you soon.” Her mom replied and the line went dead. The timing was perfect, they had just turned down the long two-lane road that headed towards Ben’s farm and she wasn’t sure how reception would have been.

  It was a Tuesday evening, she doubted her mom would have any issue changing the reservation, this was Denver, not New York City, but her parents certainly acted like they were in the big city. The thought made her smile. They were such small-town people.

  This time Naya and Atlas drove past his farm, then the one that had burned down, afterwards slowing to a crawl as they looked from their respective cars for some sort of structure he might be using to hide. The land transfer rights outlined which acres belonged to Rodgers but didn’t go into detail about where things had been built.

  Atlas suddenly veered left off the road and she quickly followed. She drove for about fifty more feet before the building came into view. She wondered how Atlas had seen the small house from the street, it was well off the road and didn’t stand out as much as the other two farms.

  Naya and Atlas stopped their vehicles in tandem blocking the road out and climbed out while making eye contact. Naya shrugged to indicate she didn’t think they would need force, Atlas mouthed “your funeral” with his pistol unholstered in his right hand hanging down by his side as they walked towards the door.

  Granted, as she reached her left hand up to knock, her right was resting on her weapon, she didn’t think she needed it but was prepared to change her opinion in an instant.

  She heard a lock disengage and the door swung open to reveal none other than their friend, Benjamin Rodgers.

  “Ah. It’s you.” He said, certainly not looking like he was planning to run.

  Naya nodded, her hand still on her pistol. “It is. Want to come out here and chat with us?”

  Benjamin audibly gulped. “Sure thing.” He stepped out on the porch and closed the door behind him. He motioned to the two rocking chairs, which occupied most of the small space. “Did you want to sit down?” He asked, a gracious host despite the circumstances.

  “No thanks. We’ll just cut to the chase. What happened to David Smith?” She didn’t have time for pleasantries. As if on cue, her phone vibrated in her pocket letting her know she had a text. Probably her mom, as promised.

  He sighed. “Ah, so you found out about that.”

  Atlas cut in. “You knew we would, that’s why you’re hiding out here. On your property, after you lied to us and told us there was a third farmer out.”

  Benjamin looked genuinely shocked. “I’m not hiding. I switch where I live frequently. I’ve just been at this place this week.”

  “Without your truck?” Atlas accused.

  “I drove my tractor out here. It’s parked behind the house if you want to check.”

  Naya wasn’t too sure, but he hadn’t run when they had knocked on the door, so it didn’t seem like he had much to hide. “Then why lie about who owns this property? And about David Smith?”

  He ran a hand through his hair and let out a breath. “I didn’t really mean to lie about David. Okay, you’re right, I knew he was dead and I’ve been working his land. But to be fair, I tried to call numerous times to find his next of kin and they wouldn’t give me any information.”

  Naya and Atlas’ eyes met. His story matched up, though it sounded different from his perspective. “Why didn’t you report that he was dead?” Atlas pushed.

  “I, didn’t know I had to?” He lifted his hands and shrugged.

  Naya almost believed him. “So, he died, and you just buried him and called it good?”

  “No, it wasn’t like that.” He shook his head vehemently. “Dave started getting sick long before, and I couldn’t care for him and the farm. So, I called the records place to find out if there was anyone who could come and care for him, but I never got any info. Nor did he have health insurance, or any kind of will that I could find, Dave was old-fashioned like that. A while before he died he told me how and where he wanted to be buried. So, when he passed, I buried him on the north side of his land. There’s a few trees over there, it’s real peaceful. And well, I gave up on the records department and I’ve been farming both pieces of land ever since.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us that the first time we were out here?” Atlas still had a stern look on his face, but he had holstered his weapon. He didn’t seem to think Benjamin was a threat to their safety anymore at least.

  “Because I’m not actually stupid, and I know I was supposed to report his death. I just had a lot on my plate, okay? And I knew the city would probably keep his body forever looking for whatever relatives that were out there that didn’t exist.”

  He sighed. “Fair enough. I’m not going to arrest you, but we do need to have you report his death.” Although his gun wasn’t in his hand, he was still using a voice that meant he was all business.

  “I will.” Benjamin promised, nodding frantically.

  “Now, why did you lie about the third farmer?”

  Benjamin pursed his lips. “I didn’t lie okay. There was a third farmer out here. But he disappeared years ago. So kinda like with Dave, I just started working his land.”

  Naya knew that in farming, the amount of land you had to work was basically the same as cash. “How long ago did he disappear?”

  He shrugged again, “Ten years maybe. It’s been a while. I don’t usually take over a farm unless I’m absolutely sure it’s been abandoned, and I think I started working this land about seven years ago.”

  “And you farm all of these acres all by yourself?” Atlas was clearly reading Naya’s mind.

  “No, I hire transient farm hands for the harvest, same with the planting. In between I will hire people as needed, but wheat doesn’t need as much care as it used to thanks to genetic modifications which make it pest and weather resistant.”

  Atlas and Naya met gazes again. She couldn’t tell if he wanted to ask more q
uestions or not, so she said nothing. She didn’t see any holes in the man’s story. Apparently, he had been waiting for the same thing, so when she said nothing either, he spoke up.

  “Alright Benjamin, thank you for talking with us. Now please, come to the police station and report that death sometime this week. And no more disappearing on us.”

  He nodded. “I am sorry. I had no idea you were looking for me.”

  They quickly said their farewells and headed back to their respective cars, but Naya’s eyes were drawn to the sky, where a couple of large dark birds were circling.

  “Atlas.”

  It came out as a whisper, but he looked to where her eyes were and swore before they took off at a sprint.

  The body was about a hundred and fifty yards from the house where they had just spoken to Benjamin. It was a beautiful young blonde woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties. Naya was sure it was Alia Larson. Her eyes swept the area as she caught her breath. He was so far ahead of them and she was so angry she wanted to scream.

  Atlas called the crime scene techs while Naya checked for a pulse even though she knew it was futile. The girl was ghostly pale and definitely dead. She lifted her head and scanned the horizon for Ben’s house, trying to do some quick distance calculations in her head.

  Atlas came up next to her. “What are you thinking?”

  “I think he knows we’re out here. I think he leaves them for us. There is no other explanation.”

  “I think you’re right. This is starting to feel a bit personal.”

  Naya looked down at the woman who was so white she was almost transparent.

  “I think we answered one question though.”

  He looked at her with a question in his eyes and she gestured to the body.

  “She looks almost bloodless. That is part of his ritual.”

  “I hate that it took another young woman to die before we found out, but you’re right.”

  “I hate it too.” Naya looked at her watch and shook her head. If she didn’t leave soon, she would not be making those dinner reservations.