Joel walked along a residential sidewalk one block up from the lake. It was a pleasant middle class Detroit Lakes neighborhood where the homes were well maintained and the shady lots neatly groomed.

A small cottage up ahead with an open front porch flew an American flag from a support column near its front entry. The flag was back-lit in the morning sun and the white and red stripes looked electrified in their brilliance. The light breeze pushing the flag horizontal, flapped its edges momentarily before allowing it to fall gently back to its original position. The scene to Joel was reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting depicting small town America.

Joel had discovered earlier in his career that he did his best thinking while walking. There had been times when he would cover distances of several miles and not have any recollection of the surroundings in which he had passed. His concentration was such that the solution to a problem produced its own internal movie which  played in his head while the reality around him faded from view.

Walking did not normally produce direct breakthrough’s, it was more about clarity of vision, which helped Joel develop logical approaches to problems within a case.

Today, he mulled over possible sources of information about the missing girl. He knew when she disappeared all those years ago she had left an impression, however small. There was no such thing as a person existing and leaving nothing behind in which to connect their life. Because she had been a stranger in this town when she vanished it presented challenges, but Joel knew clues existed somewhere.

It was important for him to be able to establish her identity, her background and how she happened to end up in Detroit Lakes. Each bit and fragment about her life would give Joel a direction in which to pursue his investigation.

Joel knew he was becoming obsessed with the case, he could feel an injustice had taken place which had probably cost Mary her life. He also knew there was an inherent responsibility involved with the task of uncovering the truth and prayed he would be up to the task.