Page 104 of Her Last Whisper

Tuesday 1605 hours

Forensics arrived thirty-five minutes later as several deputies including K9 teams were dispatched to help search for further evidence or victims in the abandoned neighborhood.

Katie had called Sheriff Scott to make sure they had permission to trash the houses to search for potential crime scenes or victims. She wanted to make sure that she was doing everything within police protocol and following the appropriate chain of evidence. She didn’t want anything to hinder an arrest or prosecution of the perpetrator once they were found.

“Great work,” said Sheriff Scott to both Katie and McGaven. He made three calls to the developers, the county, and the district attorney’s office to make sure they were within their rights.

“What bothers me is that I was here previously and I didn’t connect the dots,” replied Katie.

“Most people wouldn’t have put it together,” the sheriff said.

“Even with the plans, it didn’t look like there was a secret room when I walked into the house,” said McGaven.

“Now we have to wait,” she said.

“We’ve got everything under control here. I want you and McGaven to go back to the station and keep working on your suspect lists. I’m sure this search is going to go into the night.”

“But…” Katie began.

“I’m sure both of you are exhausted. Get some food and keep working. Keep me updated,” the sheriff ordered.

Sixty

Tuesday 1905 hours

A new awakened life rushed through Katie’s body, which was something she had so desperately needed during the investigation. She also needed sleep and food, but was too focused on the new break in the case and what was going to happen after the searches were over.

Katie pored over the massive amounts of paperwork and her notes to try and find some cohesive connection between the hospital and Basin Woods—the person who was responsible. Glancing back and forth from her cell phone to the desk phone, she knew that at any moment they would call and announce that they had found someone alive. Maybe even Tess Regan.

“What’s the whereabouts for Dr. Jamison?” she asked McGaven, who had been bombarded with numerous phone calls ever since they arrived back at the department.

“He was at the hospital and now he’s back at his hotel suite,” he said.

“The entire time?”

“There were about forty minutes where he was unaccounted for.”

“Shit.”

Katie was impatient as she tapped her index finger on her desk. “What about Robert Sykes and Marco Ellis?”

“Ellis has been working a twelve-hour shift and hasn’t left the hospital.” McGaven made notes and conversed with a few of his fellow deputies who had been assigned special details on the case. “Okay, thanks,” he said and hung up.

“Well?” she asked impatiently.

“Sykes took a dinner break. The deputy assigned to him said he’s still at the hospital, but he doesn’t have eyes on him.”

“Tell him to go and actually lay eyes on Sykes. That guy is really slippery. The way he was able to get those messages to me without me knowing. He’s like a ghost.”

“How many cups of coffee have you had?” asked McGaven.

“None. This is just me. I know we’re close—really close—and I can’t rest now.”

The phone rang.

Katie snatched the receiver up. “Scott.”

“I know you must be chomping at the bit,” said the sheriff.