You Can't Run by Hope Davis (best way to read books .txt) 📗

“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