Page 27 of Taken from Her
Julia glanced at the handmade mug again. “Should I work directly with Lavender, given her documentation systems?”
Diana felt heat rise in her chest but kept her expression steady. “Coordinate through established channels. I’ll maintain the liaison with Lavender.”
“Of course,” Julia said, something knowing in her tone.
Michelle consulted her patrol schedules. “Increased community cooperation is creating more intelligence than we can process efficiently. It’s a good problem to have, but we need to readjust our resources.”
“Approved. Priority processing for community-generated leads.” Diana gathered her files, aware that the meeting had shifted into routine coordination but her team’s energy remained forced on her. “Anything else?”
Morgan closed her laptop. “Chief, whatever approach you took at that meeting, it’s working. Community trust levels have shifted significantly.”
“Sometimes understanding people requires more than procedural knowledge,” Diana said, Lavender’s words echoing in her memory.
Julia’s smile was brief but genuine. “Agreed. See you for individual briefings this afternoon?”
Diana nodded, standing as her team dispersed. But Julia lingered, approaching the conference table where Diana stood gathering her materials.
“Nice mug. Looks handmade,” Julia said, her voice carrying curiosity.
Diana’s hand stilled on the ceramic piece, its glaze reflecting the fluorescent lights. “It was a gift.”
“Of course.” Julia walked to the conference door and paused. “You seem…different this morning. You’re more connected to the human element of the case.”
Diana met her gaze directly. “Three women are still missing. Connection might be exactly what we need.”
Julia nodded. “Yes, ma’am. It might be.”
The door closed behind her, leaving Diana alone with the whiteboard and lingering scent of vanilla. Through the conference room windows, Phoenix Ridge stretched across the hillsides. She inhaled deeply and exhaled.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Lavender:How’s your morning going?
Diana found herself smiling as she typed back:Complicated. Good complicated.
The response came quickly:The best kind.
Diana slipped the phone into her pocket, gathered the rest of her files, and headed toward her office. For the first time in three weeks, the investigation felt like it was moving forward. Not just because of new evidence, but because she was finally seeing the community as it was.
And her team was starting to see that change within her.
Diana was reviewing Morgan’s technical analysis when the knock came—two soft raps, followed by Julia’s voice. “Chief, got a second?”
“Come in.” Diana gestured toward the chair across from her desk, noting how Julia closed the door behind her with deliberate care. Private conversation, then.
Julia settled into the chair, studying Diana’s face with the observational skills that made her an excellent detective. “How are you handling the increased case complexity?”
“Fine. Why?”
“Because in the past three hours, you’ve referenced community insights four times, incorporated informal intelligence networks into the official strategy, and somehow managed to get more cooperation from residents than we’ve seen in years.” Julia’s tone held no judgment, just professional curiosity. “That’s a significant operational shift.”
Diana set down her pen, recognizing the conversation Julia was initiating. “The community responds better to authentic engagement. Even you told me that.”
“Agreed, but authentic engagement comes with complications.” Julia leaned forward slightly. “Especially when it involves people connected to active investigations.”
Heat rose in Diana’s chest, but she kept her expression neutral. “Are you questioning my professional judgment?”
“I’m offering a perspective from someone who’s been where you are.” Julia’s voice softened. “Personal investment in cases creates additional pressure. Sometimes it helps; sometimes it complicates decisions.”
Diana studied Julia’s face, recognizing something in her expression. “Is this experience talking?”
