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

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 past 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