Page 17 of Her Last Whisper

Katie glanced around, leaned in closer and lowered her voice, sensing that Amanda was just on the other side, still listening. “I know what it’s like to be scared. I went through a lot in the military and I’ve only just been able to start working again. It’s scary. I keep fighting with myself—internally—about whether or not I’m going to be able to handle it all. But here I am.”

She waited.

“Amanda, at least let me try to help you.”

Katie was just about to turn and leave when she heard the rattle of locks and then the door opened a few inches.

“I suppose you’re not going to take no for an answer,” Amanda said.

“Please, I only have a few questions,” Katie replied.

Amanda gestured for Katie to come inside, where she could hear someone humming above the sound of a hairdryer.

“Is Emily here?”

“She’s about to leave.”

Katie perched on a straight-backed chair in the living room, leaning slightly forward and keeping her focus on Amanda. It was obvious that the woman was nervous as she fidgeted about the room before settling down on the couch next to a wooden end table. On it was a vintage lamp, a small beaded purse, a box of Kleenex, a small water glass, and two prescription bottles.

The living room was small and led into an open kitchen. The furniture, two chairs and a couch, were all different in material and print, which gave an eclectic vibe. There was a neatly folded quilt and pillow on one end of the couch, which was obviously where Amanda slept.

Katie began, “Ms. Payton, I’m here about your case and I wanted to ask some follow-up questions. If you’re up to it?” She knew that she had to move forward slowly to allow Amanda to open up in her own time.

“Okay.”

“I read the deputy and detective’s reports but I wanted to ask you a couple of questions of my own, especially now that some time has passed.”

“I… I… can still hear his voice in my head. It’s always there,” Amanda interrupted.

“Did he seem to know you?”

“What do you mean?”

Katie treaded lightly and said, “Well, like did he know about things in your life, where you worked, the things you liked, or where you hung out?” She waited patiently.

“Well… I’m not sure…” Her face turned pale as if she had never thought about that before.

“Please, just take your time and think about it.”

Amanda sat quietly, not really focusing on anything around the apartment as her gaze wandered. “Maybe he did mention something about my job.”

“Like?”

“Like, it didn’t pay enough. Nursing wasn’t a good fit for someone like me. He kept telling me to tell him the truth, as if everything I said to him was a lie.” Her voice wavered.

Katie took her small field notebook from her jacket pocket. “Did he remind you of anyone you worked with at the hospital?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Are you still employed there?”

“No. I quit a while ago. I didn’t feel safe. I started feeling like he might be watching me.”

“What do you mean?” Katie asked.

“I felt someone was following me, watching as I came and went. I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“Did you ever see anyone suspicious?”