Page 62 of Her Last Whisper

“Oh damn,” said a voice with a distinct British accent. “You’re good, Detective.” One of the mannequin-looking heads stood up; beneath was a regular body. “You’re the first newcomer that didn’t fall for it.” He came out from the cramped area.

Katie still didn’t quite know what to think about the entire situation. She definitely felt like she had stepped into another dimension. “Tim Durango?” she finally said.

“Well of course, who else would I be?”

Katie couldn’t help but laugh. “They told you I was coming in, right?”

“Of course. We have to try out our newest innovations on someone unsuspecting. It’s marvelous usually.”

“It’s amazing. I wouldn’t have thought it was real, but I felt something wasn’t right.”

“Most people dismiss so much of what goes on around them. You are one of those rare people that don’t rely just on what you’re seeing, but you allow your gut to tell you otherwise.” He sat on the edge of the desk, dressed in jeans and a tie-dye T-shirt showing off his impressive tattoos of various superheroes. He carefully peeled away the silicone mask pieces that had dramatically altered his cheeks, forehead and chin.

“Well, it’s my job actually. I think proper introductions are in order. I’m Detective Katie Scott with PV Sheriff’s Department.”

“Very nice to meet you. Everyone calls me Tim.” He used a towel to wipe his face; he was a nice-looking man with very expressive eyes and slightly sharp features.

“Well then, Tim, can I ask you a few questions about a previous employee of yours?”

“Shoot.”

“James Haines,” she said, and watched his reaction.

He let out a sigh. “James was one of my best new creators. He was green when he started, but then he caught the inspiration bug and really became a great artist. One of my best, in fact. I was sad that he just left, no word, no phone call, and not even a text message. It was like he just vanished.”

“How long did he work here?”

“About two years, give or take a month or two.”

“Did he ever speak about a brother?”

“He didn’t talk much about his personal life. Every once in a while he’d tell a funny story from when he was young, but other than that, he was totally into his work.”

“His brother has asked me to look into his whereabouts. It’s very important that I find him. Do you know where he could’ve gone? Moved to? Anything?” she asked.

Tim shook his head and said, “I know he had a roommate. A guy he called Bear, if I remember correctly.”

“Yeah, I’ve already talked with him,” she said. Hesitating and then asking, “Did he seem to change? Become depressed? Angry? Anything unusual that would make him leave so abruptly.”

Tim cocked his head to one side as if thinking back. “Now that you mention it, he was a little moody, even for him, and seemed to have something weighing heavy on his mind.”

“Do you know what it might have been?”

He shook his head.

“Could you wager a guess?”

“Detective, I really don’t know. The only thing that sticks in my mind is that he did like to place bets on sports teams like the rest of us. Maybe he had debt? I really don’t know.”

“His brother is his only living relative. It’s so important that I find him. Some things… have changed and I think it’s so important for the brothers to get back in touch.”

Tim let out a sigh. He seemed to understand the importance of Katie’s trip. “I really can’t think of anything, but his workstation might give you some clues.”

“Is it still available?”

“I haven’t had the heart to clear it and give it to someone else.” He forced a smile. “I was thinking, maybe, he might return.”

“May I see it?” she asked.