Leave No Trace

Chapter 15

Danielson

Nolan was standing outside Mira's hospital room, talking to the teen who'd been with her when they'd brought her in, while the doctors finished examining the unconscious teen.

"You heard yelling?" She asked, barely able to stop herself from glancing at the door.

"Yes." He said impatiently. Derrick Snyder was someone who was used to having his actions questioned.

"So you went to investigate? Without informing any of the teachers?" She asked, concerned.

"Yes. That's right. But when I got outside, I found her. Collapsed. The last thing she said to me was "He's got Allison" but I don't know what she meant. She was beaten pretty badly, but she'd been able to write the name M. Danielson in the dust, and the letters NRPD. I thought it meant that, but I couldn't- I called 911, and asked the dispatch to call M. Danielson from the NRPD to the hospital. So tell me, Detective, are you Detective Danielson?"

Over the boy's shoulder, she blinked as she saw Danielson running towards her. He stopped beside Derrick, panting.

"What the hell is going on?" He gasped. "I just heard."

"Hey Mike." She said, before turning back to Derrick. "Derrick, this is Detective Mike Danielson. I'm Detective Caitlin Nolan. We're friends with Mira, because she's helping us on a case."

"And who is this?" Danielson asked.

"This is Derrick-." Something Dean had told them suddenly struck them. Allison was always looking at a guy in Mira's music class- whose name was Derrick. Could it be the same? "Derrick Snyder. He was the one who found Mira and came in with her."

"How do you know Mira, Derrick?" He asked, turning to the boy. He had a European accent, blonde hair and blue eyes. The kid shrugged. "We know each other through music class."

"Really?"

"Yeah we've known each other for a couple years." The boy suddenly wasn't meeting his eyes.

"Is that the whole story?" Danielson asked, eyebrows raised.

"We're only kind of friends, so I just... I wanted to make sure she'd be okay, but I didn't see who attacked her. I'm sorry. And I didn't want her to wake up surrounded by strangers, because even if she wakes up with me, even if she hates me, she'll be with someone she knows. And hopefully that'll help her."

Nolan nodded, as Danielson and Derrick locked eyes in a showdown of a mental capacity. This kid is atoning for something involving our girl. But what?

A female doctor, curly dirty blonde hair tied back, suddenly walked out of Mira's hotel room. "Are you the detectives assigned to Miss Neal's case?" she asked.

"Yes." Danielson and Nolan both said it automatically, without even asking each other.

"I'm Dr. Beckett." She explained. "I've just finished assessing Mira Neal's condition."

"And?" Danielson demanded. Nolan glanced at him worriedly.

"I was able to determine that she has a concussion from when her head hit the pavement, two broken fingers on her left hand, three bruised ribs, and mild lacerations on her hands, knees and the back of her head. We stitched up the back of her head. She also has several bruises and smaller lacerations."

Nolan watched Danielson's reaction. "WHAT?!" He cried, in shock. He forced himself to calm down. "Son of a bitch." He growled angrily.

"Danielson!" Nolan said warningly. Couldn't let the doc know more than was good for her.