Chapter 1 #2
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. ”
“You already know who committed this crime,” Hoffman challenged.
Devyn shook her head. “I don’t have a name to give you,” she repeated.
“As I explained to Mr. and Mrs. Archer, Charlene was murdered by a man. He was very careful not to leave evidence behind.” What an understatement.
The pressure built behind her heart. Her source of psychic information, the place she envisioned as a deep abyss, was throwing a lot at her, not all of which she could share with professional detachment right now.
“Careful,” Hoffman echoed. “We noted that at the time.”
“Yes, the Archers told me,” Devyn said. Martin and Amy had gathered a great deal of information during their search for answers. “The police were clearly frustrated with the lack of forensic evidence.”
“The goal was to find Charlene alive,” Hoffman said.
The job never gets easier. The detective’s thoughts flowed to Devyn unbidden. She hurried to block the connection before any privacy lines were crossed. “The Archers found some solace in learning Charlene died quickly.”
“And peacefully,” Amy interjected. “You said she went peacefully.”
Devyn nodded. She’d wanted to gloss over those details in this meeting. Surely Hoffman would assume her comments were nothing more than soothing platitudes. And that was fine for this situation.
She could hardly explain to an accomplished detective who relied on facts and evidence prepared and preserved to hold up in a court of law that Charlene herself had shared many intimate details of her murder.
Devyn didn’t always connect so clearly with a spirit, but Charlene was determined, eager to give her parents the closure they sought.
The girl’s murderer had a wealth of insider information. He knew how to avoid detection, how to prevent transfer of evidence, and many more details. He’d come by the information through the course of his career... as a cop.
She didn’t know who he was or why he’d targeted Charlene. She did expect them to find other victims. Because Charlene couldn’t have been his first kill. Too smooth and confident. But so far, nothing else had come to light that would suggest a serial killer was hunting freely in Chicago.
“In my opinion, the man who killed Charlene was someone with a great deal of expertise and knowledge about forensic evidence,” she said carefully.
Not carefully enough. Hoffman’s gaze turned positively glacial. Cold enough that Devyn shivered. “You’re telling me a cop did this.” She slapped her hand on the report.
Devyn held her ground. “I’m saying it was someone with extensive forensic expertise and knowledge,” she repeated.
She could sympathize with Hoffman’s reaction. She despised the assumption that all psychics were fakes and imposters that only cast doubts and obstructed situations. But it wasn’t as if she was labeling Hoffman as the killer or anyone else inside the Chicago PD.
The killer might have been a cop or forensic expert from another jurisdiction passing through the city. “There was a convention in town the weekend that Charlene went missing.”
“Yes,” Hoffman snapped, increasingly annoyed. “That’s no secret. Charlene was working for a catering company at the same event.”
Hoffman wasn’t in a receptive place. Devyn waited. The questions and accusations would start flying any minute now. With luck, they wouldn’t devolve into an argument that would upset the Archers.
Hoffman muttered an oath under her breath. “We looked at everyone who came in contact with her.”
“I’m sure you did.”
“But here you are, after locating the remains. What is it you think we overlooked, Ms. Norris? Which police officer should I bring in for questioning?”
Devyn tried to be gentle. “I believe the person who murdered Charlene had enough expertise to not be caught. To be overlooked by design and intent, not by neglect or mistake during the investigation. You did everything possible at the time.”
The detective frowned, her gaze on the report and her fingertip drumming a slow beat on the table.
“Will details at the site help you find the man who ki-killed our daughter?” Amy asked.
“It’s been a long time,” Hoffman began. “Finding the site should help.” She mustered up a weak smile for the grieving parents. “I’ll go back through everything. The team will analyze your daughter’s remains with the utmost respect and attention to detail.”
“Will you treat it like a new case?” Martin queried hopefully.
“No,” Hoffman replied gently. “A cold case is, by nature, worked differently. But Charlene will have my full attention. And the evidence that comes in from today’s efforts will have my full attention.
” She stood, bringing the meeting to an end.
“I commend you both for your persistence. And I’m so sorry it was necessary.
I know you loved your daughter dearly and I understand how painful this has been for your family. ”
“We want justice for our girl,” Martin said firmly. He stood, helping his wife to her feet. Devyn rose as well, happy to leave the room and the building behind.
Standing, Hoffman returned the preliminary report to Mr. Archer. “Give me time to review the evidence as it comes in,” she said. “I’ll keep you informed as we go.”
“Please do,” Amy said. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“It’s so strange. I know she’s been dead this whole time.
I’ve known it in my heart.” She pressed her fingers to her lips.
“We’ve grieved. And yet, I want the real funeral.
Why is there such a need to put bones in the ground?
” She caught Devyn’s arm, held tightly. “Why is that?”
Devyn summoned all the soothing vibes she could.
“We’re human. I believe it’s part of the connection we all share,” she replied.
“What we know in our heart and see with our eyes doesn’t always align.
Whatever you’re feeling, Mrs. Archer, is exactly what you need to feel.
Please, give yourselves time. And if I can help in any way you only need to call. ”
The Archers thanked her, then the detective, and walked out. Devyn followed, resisting the urge to rush.
“One moment, Ms. Norris?” Hoffman said. “I have a couple more questions.”
Caught like a fish on a hook, she aimed a reassuring smile toward the Archers before closing the door. And she prepared for the gauntlet.
“Sit down.”
“No, thank you.”
Hoffman didn’t insist or pull any kind of power play. “Ms. Norris.”
“Devyn.”
The detective tipped her head. “Devyn. If you’ve got all this information on where the body has been all these years, why don’t you know who did it?”
Devyn chose the simplest answer. “Because that’s your piece of the puzzle. Finding the killer is your job,” she said. “If I had anything more to share, a name or location, I would give it to you.”
Hoffman frowned, her eyes hot now. She planted a hand on her slim hip. “You’re playing games. With them. With me.”
There it was. The unpleasant assumption that she was somehow involved in a crime.
Accusations would come next. Not her first rodeo.
Devyn merely had to weather the storm. “I’m not, though I won’t try to convince you.
” She gave into a weary sigh. It had been an emotionally arduous morning.
“Mr. and Mrs. Archer came to me. I offered them the information I found. It was their choice to invest in the extra investigator and the cadaver dog.”
“How did you find that information?” Her knuckles paled as she gripped the back of the chair in front of her. “How did you find the body?”
“I use non-conventional sources.” She could hardly discuss the abyss with a cop who already doubted her.
Hoffman swore. “Where were you when Charlene Archer was abducted?”
Devyn was impressed once more by the woman’s compassion as the detective provided the dates and locations from memory.
She’d come prepared and without a word, she pulled the signed affidavit with supporting documentation from her purse.
“This confirms my home address and all of my appointments for the day of Charlene’s disappearance and the following week.
” She didn’t bother pointing out that she was neither male nor an expert in forensics.
Her theories were nothing more than faint background noise for Hoffman right now.
“You’ll be able to find plenty of corroboration,” Devyn added.
“You’d better hope so.” Hoffman scanned the affidavit, flipped up to skim the rest of the material. “Why did you do this?”
The skepticism was suffocating. One more reason Devyn avoided the police. “What exactly do you think I did?” The pressure in her chest continued to build—a painful crushing sensation that she wouldn’t be free of until she was out of here. Maybe not until she was out of the city entirely.
With precise movements, Hoffman folded the affidavit in half lengthwise. “You prey on victims. The Archers are good people and you fed them lies. Took their money. I should arrest you for obstructing justice.”
Her heart hurt for the detective. Finding the body was the first step towards justice.
“The Archers are wonderful people,” she agreed.
“And they deserved answers about their daughter’s fate.
I’m sorry you’ve had bad experiences with others, Detective Hoffman.
The Archer family sought me out. Once I realized I could help, I didn’t take any money from them. ”
“You met with them free of charge?” she asked, clearly startled.
“I did.” Devyn didn’t expect the detective to believe her.
And she’d warned the Archers that they’d likely have to field calls about her involvement.
“As any lies, that’s just a cheap shot coming from a painful part of your past.” Devyn was done playing nicely.
She didn’t need to use her gifts to push deep to find that detail.
“The cadaver dog and the official recovery of the remains speaks for my contribution toward bringing a killer to justice.”
Obstruction was nonsense. An empty threat. So far, there hadn’t been any justice for Charlene.
“Fine,” Hoffman snapped. “Go on then.” She glanced down at the papers Devyn had provided. “Feel free to go all the way back to Indiana.”
“That is my plan.” With her hand on the door handle, she paused, sensing one last question a moment before Hoffman voiced it.
“How do you know I’ll catch him?”
Devyn sighed. “Because you care. Charlene was more than a case number to you.” Devyn pressed her lips together, holding in the whole truth. She could hardly explain it was because Marlene had assured her the killer would be found and held accountable for his crimes.
Marlene’s gift for prophecy was incredibly accurate. Whether it happened today or a year from now, Devyn believed her mentor’s words would prove true.
“Do you want me to let you know when we find him?”
Devyn wondered if Hoffman noticed her confident phrasing. “I’ll leave that up to you. You have my number.” And with that, she walked out.
It didn’t matter to her if they caught the killer. Charlene Archer and her parents had a measure of peace after six long years.
That was victory enough for Devyn.