SACRIFICES by KENNETH VANCE Page B

used to print the letter as well as that particular font comes from an incredibly old printer. I mean with computers being so mainstream now a days this letter was printed on a very old printer with very old ink. The samples matched that of an old IBM Tri-Stars. It was one of the first personal home printers out on the market many years ago.” Lyle sighs. “I know it’s not much but it’s all I got buddy.”
                  Brad stands up and says as he reaches back over his desk and shakes his hand again. “I do appreciate it.” Brad smiles and says. “And by the way, if anyone ever gives you any shit or bothers you, you just tell me about it. I’ll take care of it. You just come get me and I’ll protect you.”
                  Lyle walks over to the door where Brad is standing. “Thanks a lot, that’s awfully nice of you. And sometimes I do get a little scared so the next time I’ll just give you a call to protect me.” Lyle smiles as he shakes Brad’s hand as he towers over the good size detective.
                  Brad jokingly says. “If you can’t find my number just hit the speed dial at home. Your wife has me under sexy detective. I think it‘s number one.” Lyle smiles and puts him in a headlock and starts to mess up his hair. Brad pats him on the back then rubs his bald head. “I’ll see you later buddy.” He walks out carrying the report and the letter.
     
     
    BRAD RETURNS UPSTAIRS TO TODD’S OFFICE
                  On the way to his office he stops by Tammy's and tells her as he lays the report on her desk. “There’s nothing on the letter so file this for me.” He hands her Lyle’s report and the letter they received.
                  Tammy takes the report and the letter and tells him. “Ok.” She smiles and continues typing.
                  Brad walks into Todd’s office and sees the chief and Betty Downs seated. He approaches Betty and leans down and gives her a hug. “Hi stranger.” Brad takes a seat next to her.
                  Betty Downs, a 14-year veteran that majored in psychology at the University of ITSU. Betty thinks, eats, and sleeps police work. Not to keen on the day-to-day operations of a normal policewoman, she deals mostly with the silent job of the police force. That is what goes on in the head of suspects and victims.
                  Outstanding at her job she's been responsible for finding flaws in testimonies as well as finding facts without much to go on. She’s been married for 15 years with one child, a stepdaughter that her husband had from his first marriage. Betty treats her like her own raising her since she was seven. Betty spends a lot of time with her grand daughter who just turned two. Being a very young thirty-six year old grandmother she gets teased a lot by other officers. Many friends on the force call her 'Granny'. A nickname she wears with great pride.
                  Chief Jason Carlin leans back. “I think we finally found something.” Todd stands up and hands Brad a folder that has a bunch of old headlines in it. The first one he takes out says. ‘SEARCH FOR MISSING COUPLE CONTINUES.’ The second one he turns over says. ‘ILLINOIS PLAYERS QUESTIONED IN DISAPPEARANCE.’ Brad continues to look through the faded old headlines from the Champaign Gazette.
                  Brad looks up and asks. “What’s all of this about?” He continues to look through the many headlines and articles and comes to the one on the bottom of the stack that reads. ‘ILLINOIS PLAYERS EXONERATED IN DISAPPEARANCE.’
    Betty speaks up and says. “Back in 1985 when I was a sophomore at the ITSU, there was a story that came out around the time of the Championship season. The rumor was at a big party shortly after the National Championship a couple turned up missing. They were never seen again. Some of people at the party said that they seen the