Leave No Trace

Chapter Five

Mike

He and Nolan were sitting across the table from Mira once again.

"What did you want to talk to us about?" He asked.

"I'd like to speak to you privately, Detective Danielson." She said cautiously.

Nolan looked mildly annoyed, but Danielson shook his head at her, so she stood, exiting. "I'm going to find that Marshall kid."

"Good idea." Mira muttered, waiting, watching the door until she was certain they were alone.

"You seem a bit more jumpy this morning." He commented. "You have something you want to get off your chest?"

"Yeah." She leaned forward, her eyes dark, angry. "I want to help with this investigation. She's my friend, I know her best, and I'm an asset."

"You can continue to help by cooperating with our investigation-." He started.

"Don't just sit there and feed me your standard procedure cooperation lines!" She snapped. "I want to help, and I can help."

"You're also a teenager-." He started out.

"I don't care." She retorted, cutting him off again. "I can help you, Danielson. You have to let me help you."

"Look, Mira-."

"And I know who did it."

"Sure you do." He leaned back in his chair. "So... enlighten me. Who did this?"

She glanced towards the door, before saying. "Dean. That's who."

"Dean? Her boyfriend?" He asked, slightly incredulous. He refused to admit that he'd already wondered if Dean Marshall was behind the disappearance of his girlfriend.

"Yes, her boyfriend. He fits the classic stalker profile." She said, her voice angry. "He follows her to her classes, he won't let her have a moment alone with her friends..."

"That's called being a boyfriend, it does not make him a stalker." Danielson dismissed.

"Look, believe me, don't believe me. But I can read him- I went to elementary school with him- I know him better from years of experience than you will from one insignificant interview. He's is creepy, and violent, and has a foul mouth." She said, staring at Danielson, "You want to pull boys will be boys BS and I will try and prove your incompetence."

"He's also a teenage boy. I'd be more concerned if he had the language of a saint!"

"Just let me help with your investigation, Danielson. Please." She said softly.

"Fine. Does that mean you want to stay here for Dean's interview?"

"Nope!" She said quietly. "I'd rather not rouse suspicion, if what I know to be true is true." She held out her hand. "It'll be nice to be part of your team."

Reluctantly, he took her hand and shook it. For some reason he couldn't quite explain, he felt a chill down his spine upon shaking her hand. And he still couldn't read this mysterious young woman.

She left, calling over her shoulder. "I'll be back later."

A moment later, there was a knock on the door. Nolan walked back in, escorting a boy with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing glasses. He wasn't all that tall, about the same height as Nolan, but there was something about the glint in his eyes that made him somewhat intimidating.

But Danielson, having just done battle with a fifteen-year-old girl, was not remotely intimidated.

"You must be Dean." He said, his voice neutral.