Page 31 of Taken from Her
“That’s why we’re here,” Lavender said, finding her voice again. “To pool our resources and create better protection for everyone.”
Diana nodded, her attention never wavering from the group. “I want to hear everything. Things that seemed unimportant, moments that felt off, people who asked unusual questions. All of it matters.”
Georgia spoke up from her corner. “There was a man asking about local women’s organizations last month. Professional appearance, friendly enough. Said he was doing research for a nonprofit.”
“Where did this happen?” Diana’s pen moved across her notebook, capturing every word.
“Outside the community center. I was leaving my book club when he approached me.”
“Did he give you a name? Organization?”
“David something. I didn’t catch his full name. But he seemed to know quite a bit about local businesses. He asked specifically about Lavender’s Cafe and the swimming pool.”
Diana stopped writing. “He mentioned specific locations?”
“He asked about schedules, peak hours, and who the regular customers were.” Georgia’s voice carried the authority of someone who’d survived seven decades by paying attention. “At the time, it seemed like harmless research. Now, well…”
“Now, it looks like reconnaissance,” Diana finished.
The word hung in the air like a physical presence. Lavender felt the group’s energy tighten, fear mixing with determination in ways that made her proud of her community’s resilience.
“This is exactly what we need,” Diana said, looking around the circle. “Sharing information to identify patterns and coordinate protection.”
Elle raised her hand tentatively. "So what do we do with this? How do we stay safe without hiding?"
Diana's expression softened. "We work together. With your community knowledge and our investigative resources, we can create a real partnership instead of parallel efforts.”
Lavender caught Diana's eye across the circle, seeing something there that made her pulse quicken. Not just professional respect, but genuine appreciation for what they were building together.
"Let's start with current safety protocols," Lavender said, grateful her voice remained steady. "Then we'll develop communication systems that work for everyone."
The workshop was officially beginning, but Lavender could already feel that a core truth had been altered. They weren't just community members receiving a police briefing anymore. They were partners in keeping each other safe.
And Diana was no longer the distant authority figure who'd first entered their space. She was becoming part of what they were building together.
Twenty minutes into the workshop, Lavender realized she was in trouble.
Not the kind of trouble that came from hostile community members or unproductive meetings. This was worse; the slow-burning awareness that Diana’s presence was unraveling her usual competence one thread at a time.
“So the buddy system works best when”—Lavender paused, momentarily lost as Diana shifted in the chair, her uniform fabric catching the light—“when partners check in at predetermined times.”
Elle raised her hand. “How often should we be checking in?”
Lavender opened her mouth to answer, then caught sight of Diana taking notes, her fingers moving across the page with the same careful precision they’d used to trace patterns on Lavender’s skin only twelve hours ago.
“Every few hours,” she said finally, hoping no one noticed the delay.
Diana looked up from her notebook. “For higher risk activities like walking alone after dark or going to isolated locations, hourly check-ins might be more appropriate.”
The practical suggestion snapped Lavender back into focus. “Exactly. And Chief Marten brings up an important point about risk assessment.” She moved toward the flip chart, grateful for something to do that didn’t involve looking directly at Diana. “Let’s map out our community’s daily routines and find vulnerable points.”
The group engaged readily with the exercise. Corinne shared Joanna’s swimming schedule, her voice steady despite the pain underneath. Sam talked about her early morning runs along the coastal trail. Racquel and Jordan described their evening walks through downtown and how they started varying their routes since the disappearances began.
Diana contributed without dominating, asking questions that showed genuine interest in community dynamics, rather than just gathering evidence. When Hazel mentioned feeling nervous about walking to her car after evening shifts, Diana offered specific safety protocols instead of generic advice.
“The key is maintaining unpredictability while ensuring someone always knows your location,” Diana said. “Random timing, varied routes, but consistent communication.”
Lavender found herself staring at Diana’s hands again—the way she gestured while speaking, fingers that had been gentle and sure in the darkness of the houseboat. She forced herself to look away, but not before Diana caught her watching. Their eyes met for just a moment, and Lavender felt heat rise in her cheeks.
