Page 44 of Taken from Her (Phoenix Ridge Police Department #4)
Lavender's laughter carried over the sound of running water, joy and agreement and the promise of whatever came next.
Diana stood, gathering their coffee mugs to rinse in the sink.
The café waited for Lavender's afternoon arrival, the police station continued its innovative work under her leadership, and tonight their community would celebrate five years of proof that the best partnerships enhance everything they touch.
But first, they had a full day of work that had been made meaningful by their shared purpose, professional achievements that mattered more because they were built on personal happiness, and the promise of coming home to each other at the end of it all.
Diana smiled, beginning her own morning preparation. Five years in, and every day still felt like a beginning.
The Phoenix Ridge Community Center buzzed with energy as Diana arrived at three-thirty, earlier than planned but eager to see Lavender's expanded operation in action.
What had started as café overflow space five years ago had evolved into a comprehensive resource hub that drew visitors from across the Pacific Northwest.
Diana paused in the main entrance, taking in walls lined with success stories: photos of GED graduates, small business owners who'd received mentorship, and youth who'd found direction through job training programs. A discrete plaque near the door credited funding from the Department of Justice Community Partnership Grant—federal money that had followed academic studies of Lavender's model.
"Chief Marten!" Elena Rodriguez approached with her usual energy, tablet in hand and wearing the confident smile of someone who'd found her calling. "Lavender said you might stop by early. Perfect timing. We're setting up for the youth leadership workshop."
Diana followed Elena through the center, impressed by how seamlessly community programming flowed between spaces.
In one room, a financial literacy class for seniors was wrapping up.
Another hosted a support group for domestic violence survivors.
The main hall was being arranged for tonight's celebration, but also accommodated a teen coding workshop that would continue until setup required the space.
"This is really impressive! What’s the attendance looking like?" Diana asked, her curiosity engaged.
"It’s up forty percent from last year. We're serving people from as far as Crescent City and Humboldt." Elena consulted her tablet with obvious pride. "The waiting list for business mentorship is six months, but Lavender's training new volunteers to expand the capacity."
They entered Lavender's office, which had tripled in size since the early days when she'd managed everything from a corner of the café.
Now it resembled a professional nonprofit operation: grant applications organized on whiteboards, volunteer schedules coordinated through digital systems, and impact metrics displayed with the kind of precision Diana recognized from her own departmental reporting.
Lavender looked up from her desk where she was reviewing what appeared to be budget projections. "You're early. Good or bad news from the department?"
"Good news. Seattle confirmed they're implementing the full community liaison model starting next month.
" Diana settled into the chair across from Lavender's desk, a comfortable piece of furniture that had obviously been chosen for the long conversations that happened here.
"Their mayor specifically requested training materials from 'the Phoenix Ridge approach. '"
"How do you feel about creating a national model?"
Diana considered the question seriously. Five years ago, the idea of other departments studying her methods would have made her uncomfortable. Today, it felt like validation that caring about people produced results that mattered beyond individual cases.
"Proud, grateful…and slightly overwhelmed by the responsibility." Diana's honesty came easily now. "Twenty-three departments implementing programs based on what we developed here means hundreds of communities potentially feeling safer."
"And police officers are learning they don't have to choose between being effective and being human."
"That too." Diana smiled. "Speaking of which, how's your afternoon going? Elena says you're training new volunteers."
"Three new business mentors are starting next week, plus two counselors for the support groups." Lavender gestured toward files spread across her desk. "The federal grant covers staff positions, but volunteer coordination is what makes the programming sustainable."
Diana studied the organizational charts Lavender had developed. "This is impressive. You've essentially created a social services agency that supplements official resources."
"We've created community infrastructure that fills gaps institutional systems can't address." Lavender's correction was gentle but important. "People who can't access traditional counseling, entrepreneurs who don't qualify for bank loans, and kids who need mentorship outside school systems."
The distinction mattered. Diana had learned to understand the difference between replacing official services and enhancing them.
A knock on the door interrupted them. Captain Julia Scott entered, followed by Dr. Samira Hassan and two people Diana didn't recognize—a woman with a professional demeanor and tablet, and a man with a camera.
"Hope we're not interrupting," Julia said. "The visitors from Portland arrived early."
Lavender stood, extending her hand to the woman with the tablet. "Dr. Erica Hartley, welcome to Phoenix Ridge. This is Chief Diana Marten."
Dr. Erica Hartley, Diana learned, was a researcher from Portland State University studying community-based violence prevention models. The photographer, Clark Fenner, documented innovative social programs for a national foundation considering replication grants.
"We've been studying your partnership model for six months," Dr. Hartley said, settling into chairs Elena arranged around Lavender's desk. "The measurable outcomes are remarkable, but we wanted to see the integration in practice."
"What specific metrics are you tracking?" Diana asked, falling into professional mode.
Erica consulted her tablet. "Crime reduction, community trust surveys, economic development indicators, and youth engagement rates. But we’re also tracking softer measures: sense of safety, community connection, and cross-cultural cooperation."
"What were the results?"
"Unprecedented. Twenty-eight percent reduction in reported crime over five years, but more importantly, there’s been a sixty percent increase in community members reporting they feel 'very safe' in Phoenix Ridge.
" Erica's academic excitement was obvious.
"Property values are up eighteen percent, and small business formation is up forty-five percent. "
Diana felt professional satisfaction mixing with personal pride. The numbers validated not just their methods, but their life choices.
"What interests us most," Erica continued, "is how your personal partnership supports your professional effectiveness rather than compromising it. Traditional models assume emotional investment creates bias. Your results suggest the opposite."
Julia nodded. "Chief Marten's leadership evolution has transformed our entire department culture. Officers are more effective because they're emotionally engaged with community outcomes."
"And the community responds better to police who demonstrate authentic care rather than just professional duty," Dr. Hassan added.
"Medical professionals see it too. There are less trauma-related presentations and better mental health outcomes overall, which lead to higher trust in institutional services. "
Lavender leaned forward. "The integration isn't just professional. Personal happiness makes us both better at our work, which serves the community more effectively, which strengthens our personal satisfaction. It's a positive feedback loop."
"Can you give us a specific example?" Erica asked.
Diana and Lavender exchanged glances, not needing to always vocalize their shared thoughts.
"Last month's domestic violence case," Diana said. "A traditional approach would have been arrest, prosecution, and a victim services referral. Standard procedure."
"But what happened instead?" Erica prompted.
"An arrest and prosecution proceeded as required, of course," Diana continued. "But Lavender's support networks provided immediate housing assistance, counseling resources, and job training. The victim had comprehensive support from day one instead of having to navigate separate systems."
"And what about a follow-up?"
"She completed a business training program, opened her own shop downtown, and now mentors other survivors," Lavender said. "The perpetrator completed court-mandated counseling plus voluntary community service. Both lives were changed instead of just processing a legal case."
Dr. Erica Hartley wrote rapid notes. "How did your personal relationship enable that outcome?"
"I trusted Lavender's networks to provide better support than institutional referrals alone," Diana replied. "She trusted my professional judgment about safety and legal requirements. Collaboration happened because we know each other completely, not despite it."
"The efficiency is remarkable," Erica observed. "There are no bureaucratic delays, jurisdictional disputes, or service gaps."
Clark Fenner, who'd been photographing quietly, looked up from his camera. "Could you show us the integration in action? Maybe walk through how you coordinate during community events?"
Elena checked her watch. "Perfect timing. We're setting up for tonight's anniversary celebration. We can see everyone—community members, the police department, and city officials—working together."