Page 2 of No Room to Breathe
In Devyn’s experience, when people were hurting and overwhelmed, they rarely stuck to the story.This meeting had the potential to quickly shift from awkward to pure misery.Part of her role here was to be okay with any unpleasant fallout.
Because this was about the Archer family.Their pain and grief and sorrow.Their dwindling hope for real justice.
Devyn didn’t have any stake in the upcoming discussion.It wasn’t as if she had anyone who might bail on her when she gave her statement.Her family and closest friends accepted her as-is, unusual gifts included.
After a brief delay, a police officer led them up to the detective’s office.Every squeak of a shoe on the polished floor reverberated through Devyn’s mind.A chirpy countdown that irked her senses and put a pinch in her neck.Devyn combatted the rising tension by bringing to mind the smiling faces of the people who cared about her.She recited their names, over and over in her mind like a mantra.
At last, they reached a conference room.Detective Laverne Hoffman stood in the doorway to welcome them.Tall and slender, her tailored navy suit and orchid blouse set off her dark skin to perfection.Her golden-brown eyes, gleaming with compassion as she greeted the older couple, were framed by long eyelashes.
Devyn immediately realized that detective Hoffman had never forgotten the Archer case.That flicker of awareness gave her hope for the conversation ahead.
“Good morning, Martin.Amy,” Hoffman said, inviting them in.“I’m sorry all over again for your loss.”
Mr.and Mrs.Archer murmured their thanks and Amy gave the detective a brief hug.
Devyn trailed them into the room.On the other side of tinted windows, the day was bright and clear, a sharp contrast to the grim topic of loss and death.
Hoffman raised her eyebrows.“We haven’t met.”
Smiling, she extended her hand.“Devyn Norris.I’ve been helping the family,” she added as the three of them sat down around one end of the large table in the middle of the room.
“She’s been such a blessing,” Amy said.“Our rock.We would still have so many questions if it weren’t for Devyn.”
Hoffman’s eyebrows lifted again, more challenge than curiosity this time.
“I dig into cold cases occasionally,” Devyn explained.“At the family’s request, of course.”
“My idea,” Martin jumped in.“I asked her to help.Not to find fault with the police or anything.It’s just—” He paused for a shaky breath.“We weren’t hearing any progress about...About our girl.”He set the report on the table, smoothing the paper with his fingertips.
“And I am sorry for that.”Hoffman pulled out a chair and sat directly across from the Archers.“I got a call from the medical examiner’s office that human remains were recovered earlier today.”Her gaze steady, she asked, “You believe your daughter has been found?”
Amy bobbed her head.“Yes.We were there when the cadaver dog, um...”
“Gave an alert,” Martin supplied.
“Right,” Amy continued.“We stayed just long enough.”She dabbed at the tears slowly trickling down her cheeks.“We recognized a couple of items of clothing there, um, in there with the...With Charlene,” she said, her voice cracking on her daughter’s name.
“That’s a very difficult thing to do,” Hoffman said.“And that’s not the outcome you were hoping for.”
“No.But we needed closure,” Amy’s voice snapped like a whip.“We couldn’t keep still any longer hoping this was the day she came home.”
“And how did you contribute, Ms.Norris?”
Devyn met the detective’s gaze.“Fresh eyes on the old details, that’s all.”
Amy shook her head.“Hardly.She gave us so much more than that.”She scooted to the edge of her chair.“Detective Hoffman, you need to understand.Devyn is a psychic.She listened to our story then she led us right to our Charlene.”
Devyn gave Hoffman credit for a superb poker face.The woman didn’t flinch.Maybe she was the rare kind of cop who believed in things that were difficult to explain.
“Look at the report.”Martin pushed the paper across the table.“That’s all because of Devyn.”
Hoffman read through both pages and studied the print out of the first photos taken at the scene.“It certainly does seem as if Ms.Norris has been helpful,” Hoffman allowed.“This matches the preliminary report from the team at the site.I’m so sorry we couldn’t do more at the time of Charlene’s disappearance.”
Amy shifted in her seat again and reached for her husband’s hand.“Ms.Norris explained that too.”
Hoffman couldn’t hide her reaction.“Is that so?”Her eyes turned cool, her mouth set in a firm line.
Devyn recognized the signs.The detective had reclassified her from harmless, helpful bystander to charlatan.It was the typical reaction.One she’d expected much earlier.She didn’t bother to smile or sugarcoat the facts.“I would love to give you a name,” she began.“But it’s not that simple.Hopefully, you’ll find sufficient evidence today that will lead you to justice for Charlene.”
