Page 37 of Taken from Her
Lavender moved toward the tide line where wet sand revealed recent footprints from other beachgoers, morning joggers, and dog walkers. "Here, along the water's edge. Tara would let Max set the pace, stopping whenever he got nervous."
Diana began photographing the area systematically but found herself pausing to watch Lavender navigate the rocky terrain with natural grace. She moved like someone who belonged in this environment, comfortable with the uneven surfaces and shifting tides in ways that made Diana's careful police training seem rigid by comparison.
"Diana, look at this." Lavender crouched near a cluster of rocks where high tide debris had collected. "This fabric doesn't look like typical beach trash."
Diana joined her, pulling on latex gloves before examining what Lavender had spotted. A small piece of dark fabric caught on the rough volcanic rock, too deliberately placed to be random ocean debris.
"Good eye," Diana said, carefully photographing the evidence before collecting it. "This could be from clothing, but it's positioned like someone placed it here intentionally."
"Or like someone struggled here and fabric tore during the altercation."
Diana studied the surrounding area with new focus, noting disturbed sand patterns and broken vegetation that suggested more than casual foot traffic. "Help me understand the timeline. When would Tara and Max typically be here?"
"Sunset, usually. She'd time it so they could walk as the light changed, when the beach was quieter but not completely isolated." Lavender pointed toward the access road. "The parking area would have other cars belonging to evening photographers and couples watching the sunset."
"So it wasn’t completely isolated, but predictable timing." Diana moved in wider circles, documenting everything. "Someone who knew her routine could position themselves with visual contact but remain unnoticed among other legitimate visitors."
They worked together methodically, Diana's forensic training complemented by Lavender's understanding of how the space functioned in the community's daily life. Where Diana saw evidence of possible struggle, Lavender provided context about normal usage patterns that helped distinguish significant disturbances from everyday beach activity.
"There." Lavender pointed toward an area where sand looked artificially smoothed. "That's not a natural tidal pattern."
Diana photographed the area, then carefully examined the sand with her measuring tape. "You're right. Someone tried to cover their tracks here, but they didn't understand how this beach naturally responds to waves."
"Tara would have known. She'd been walking this stretch for two years, studying every detail to help Max overcome his fears."
"We're missing something," Diana said, stepping back to survey the entire scene. "If someone took her from here, there should be more evidence. Vehicle tracks, signs of struggle, something that explains how they transported her without being seen."
Lavender moved toward the cliff face, studying the rock formations with focused attention. "Diana, what about tide patterns? If someone was familiar with this area, they'd know about..."
She paused, pointing toward a section of cliff that looked different from the surrounding rock face. "There's a sea cave accessible only at low tide. Tara mentioned it once and said Max was finally brave enough to explore it with her."
Diana felt her pulse quicken. "How do we access it?"
"Carefully, and only when the tide's right." Lavender checked her phone for tide charts. "We've got maybe an hour before it becomes inaccessible again."
Diana gathered her evidence collection equipment, adrenaline building at the possibility of discovering something that previous investigations had missed. "Lead the way."
They moved along the base of the cliff, Lavender navigating tide pools and slippery rocks with sure footing while Diana followed more carefully, equipment bag slung across her shoulder. The ocean's sound grew louder as they approached the cliff face, waves echoing off stone in ways that would muffle other sounds.
"There," Lavender pointed toward what looked like a shadow in the rock face, but as they drew closer revealed itself as an opening just large enough for two people to enter.
Diana felt something tighten in her chest—not just professional excitement at potential evidence, but awareness that they were about to enter an isolated, intimate spacetogether. The cave's accessibility only at low tide meant complete privacy, removal from the everyday world.
"Ready?" Lavender asked, pausing at the cave entrance.
Diana nodded, following Lavender into the filtered light and echoing sounds of the hidden space, carrying both evidence collection equipment and the growing certainty that this investigation was about to change everything between them.
The cave opened into a natural cathedral, ocean light dancing on wet stone walls while waves provided rhythmic soundtrack to their exploration. And in the sand scattered across the cave floor, Diana could see signs that they weren't the first people to discover this hidden space.
Diana moved carefully across the uneven cave floor as she used her flashlight to illuminate the space ahead. The cave stretched deeper than she'd expected, rising into shadows above their heads. Behind her, Lavender navigated the slippery rocks with natural grace, her presence both calming and distracting in the confined space.
"This is incredible," Diana said, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "How did you know about this place?"
"Tara mentioned it during one of our coffee conversations. She was so proud when her dog finally trusted her enough to explore it together." Lavender paused near a natural ledge where smooth stones had been arranged in a pattern too deliberate to be accidental. "Diana, look at this."
Diana joined her, examining the stones with growing excitement. Someone had definitely been here recently. The arrangement was fresh, undisturbed by tides that would have scattered random debris.
"This could be a marker," Diana said, photographing the stones from multiple angles. "Someone using this space for storage or as a staging area."
