Daughter's Homecoming

By TIFFANY ROYSTER

"Her Brain was running in all places. Confused and filled with questions. Questions that she was afraid to know the answer to. There were so many similarities between her and the missing girl. Maybe she had too much wine. Though she only remembers having one glass, not even finishing it. Could it be her lack of adequate sleep? That had to be it."

Detective Channah Brooks had always wanted to be a detective ever since she was a little girl. The thought of working on some of the most mysterious cases was fascinating to her. Then one day she gets the strangest case she could ever lay her hands on.Lizette Singleton experienced the worst nightmare any mother could ever face. Her daughter went missing without a trace twenty years ago. She was never given peace as to where her daughter went and what happened to her. Even after all this time, she never gave up hope that her daughter could still be out there.The detective decides to take on the case of Lizette Singleton's missing daughter. With the case being cold for nearly two decades, there is not much evidence to go on.Though Lizette Singleton is more than optimistic that her daughter can be found, the detective is not so sure.Channah Brooks begins rummaging through the dusty case files. Trying to discover anything that may have been missed in the past. A few clues start to piece together in a strange manner. During the investigation, the detective starts to question her own life and where she really came from.Who was Channah Brooks really, and why does it seem like her whole life was a lie? Could she be closer to solving this case than she thought? Could she finally bring some closure to Lizette Singleton, while learning her true identity? The truth is always stranger than fiction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: TIFFANY ROYSTER
• Release date: Jan 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201952990

TIFFANY ROYSTER

Tiffany Royster was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois. Writing has always been her passion ever since she was a little girl. “Everyone Has A Secret” is her first self-published book in 2019, which is part of a series. Tiffany resides in Loves Park with her family. You can find her author Facebook page by searching Tiffany Royster – Self Published Author.

Book preview

Here is a list of my other books:

Everyone Has A Secret Book 1

Everyone Has A Secret Book 2

Everyone Has A Secret Book 3

Echo of The Cracked Bell

With Every Piece Of Me

Daughter’s

Homecoming

This book is dedicated in the memory of my uncle, John Royster. His job in law enforcement allowed him to help make the city a safer place. His witty charm captured the hearts of those around him. Though he is no longer with us, he will always be around. I miss you every day, Uncle John. And I will never forget you.

CHAPTER ONE

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The smell of stale coffee wafted through the precinct like a bad omen. The main office area was filled with police officers sitting at their desks, rummaging through their cases for the day. One police officer was in the middle of eating a donut when jelly dripped down his face onto the front of his shirt. He shrugged his shoulders and wiped the mess up with a napkin he had on his desk.

Captain was in his office, feet propped up on his desk smiling to himself. Whatever he was smiling about is a mystery to everyone in the room. At least he was in a good mood this time. On some days, he would come in all grumpy and yelling in all directions. This made the workday a little more stressful. But when he was in one of his good moods, everyone knew it was going to be a good day.

Detective Channah Brooks walked through the busy aisles, pulling down her skirt every few moments. Her skirt just did not seem to want to cooperate today. She sighed in defeat and continued her way to her office. Detective Channah Brooks received her promotion just a few months back. She worked her ass off to get this far. Spending endless nights with no sleep. Buried in paperwork at her desk.

Her hard work eventually payed off and she was given the opportunity of a lifetime. She knew this is what she was made for. Ever since she was a child. She knew she wanted to be the one to save the city. And put the bad guys away. Not many women made it into this field. Some thought they weren’t strong enough. Or smart enough. That women just didn’t have what it takes to do a ‘man’s job’. Well, Channah made it her mission to prove them all wrong. And boy, did she.

Channah took her seat at her desk, setting down her coffee cop. No one in the office knew how to ever make a fresh pot. And this morning she was not in the mood, nor had the energy to fight with the coffee pot. Plus, the minute that the last drip of coffee made its way into the pot, the officers would fight their way between each other for the first cup. See, they all liked the hot liquid of gold. But none seem to like making it.

She set her briefcase down on the floor next to her chair and took a seat. Fixing her skirt for the millionth time that morning. Once she was situated, she took her first sip of coffee and nearly burned the roof of her mouth. As she winced, she set the cup down and decided to give it some time to cool off. There was a pile of paperwork on her desk that she had to get through. Channah sighed as she knew this would take all morning.

One of the downsides of being the new lead detective is that it came with a lot more work. More work than she knew she would have. But this is what she fought for. Her spot in the race that was eventually won. There was a knock at her door, and she looked up to see the captain standing there. She gave me a slight grin and he nodded his head. That was his way of saying good morning. Sometimes he was a man of few words. Which she didn’t mind at all.

Channah decided to start with the first folder and make her way down. These were all cases that had been solved. The last step was to finalize all the paperwork before it was placed in the filing room with the rest of the finished cases. The filing room was small and held several cabinets just packed full. She had mentioned many times to the captain how they needed a bigger room. He would just brush her suggestion off, which drove her crazy.

She was halfway through the pile when she had a phone call come through her desk phone. The trilling sound nearly knocked her out of her seat. She didn’t realize she had been in a trance the whole time she was filing all the paperwork. Channah had learned to drown out any extra noise and distractions while she went through all the cases. This helped her concentrate better. If the commotion from the main room became too much, she would just simply close her office door.

Channah picked up the phone and put it to her ear. There was a woman on the other end. A woman that she had never spoken to before. Sounded like she would have a new case on her hands. Good morning, this is Detective Channah Brooks.

Hi Detective, my name is Lizette Singleton. I was wondering if I could have a word with you. The woman spoke softly on the other end. There was a slight tone of pain in her voice. Channah wondered where this was going to lead.

Channah shifted in her seat, Yes, Lizette, what can I do to help you?

The woman didn’t say anything at first, making Channah wonder if she was still on the other end. Just before Channah could say anything, the woman spoke, My daughter has been missing for twenty years now. Your office worked on her first for the first couple and then just stopped.

Channah was not familiar with this case. There was so many that were brought into the police station that it would be nearly impossible to rummage through every single one. Plus, twenty years is a very long time ago. She wouldn’t even know where to look for the case file. Nevertheless, she knew that this woman needed her help. And this is what her job description was. I am so sorry to hear about your daughter Lizette. How about this, I will take a look at your daughter’s file. See what I can come up with. How does that sound?

The woman sighed with relief and her tone perked up a bit more, That would be wonderful!

Channah nodded her head and grabbed a pen, Yes, I just need her name and birth date, as well as a good number to reach you. Then I will go from there.

The woman gave Channah all the information she had asked for and thanked her again before hanging up. The chicken scratch of notes wouldn’t make much sense to anyone else reading it, but to Channah it was clear. She picked her office phone up and rang the captain. In just a few short minutes, he was back hovering over her doorway. Channah motioned for him to come sit down, as she prepared to question his about the phone call she had gotten.

Captain Charlie Reyes had a cup of the stale coffee in his hand, stinking up her office. She turned up her nose at the awful smell. She couldn’t understand how he could drink that crap. The scent made her stomach curl. She had better make this quick before her breakfast made its way onto her desk. Channah gathered her notes and prepared to ask Charlie about it. I had a woman call me about her missing daughter. Said it has been twenty years.

Captain Charlie Reyes raised his eyebrow and looked up at her over his God-awful cup of dirt water, Yes, I remember. What about it?

His snarky attitude got on every last one of her nerves, Well, she wants to have an update. And I think we should look into this for her.

He crossed his legs and set his coffee cup on her desk, dripping some onto the shiny surface. This made her skin crawl. Why did he have to be such a pig? That case is growing dust and much too old to look into, Channah. Don’t even waste your time.

She huffed at his cruel statement, How can you even say that? This woman’s daughter is missing. Don’t you get that? She was growing more