Page 69 of Her Last Whisper

“I only saw him for a moment. I’m hoping that I’ll get a good set of prints and we can find out who he is so you can ask him what he was doing.”

“I hope so.”

“It may be nothing, but I’ll be thorough.” John tried to reassure her.

“Yeah, it could be nothing,” Katie said, but she wasn’t so sure. “Could you…?”

“I’ll let you know immediately if the prints get a hit,” he said, still concentrating on his task.

Katie smiled. She knew that John was methodical at his job. “Thanks, John.”

Back in her office,it was clear McGaven had been busy. On the board, he had written:

“You’re on the right track”: Left on car at psychiatric hospital

“You’re closer, red hot now”: Left at abandoned house

“Don’t spend too much time there”: Left inside briefcase—at morgue or apartment?

McGaven looked up from his work as Katie put down her things. “You thinking what I’m thinking? That the guy messing with your car last night was the same one leaving you notes?”

Katie sat down in her chair still looking at the messages. “I cannot worry about it right now; if John gets a hit then we’ll see if it fits into the investigation. Otherwise, it’s just on the back burner.”

“I agree.”

“I read your overview report from yesterday while I had breakfast,” she said. “Very interesting. I’ll watch the video from the hospital later if need be, but I trust your assessment.”

“I think we should really take a look at these messages you’ve been receiving.”

“I thought we were going to leave it on the back burner?” she said.

“I’m looking at them and I’m thinking…”

“Obviously, someone is trying to tell me, guide me, or throw me off track on this investigation,” she said.

“The killer?”

“I don’t think so. The statements are too straightforward, not playing games, not dramatic enough, and it seems like they arereallytrying to help me. A concerned person? Maybe someone who knows the killer?”

“It’s strange like…” McGaven said as he reread the messages. “It reads like a…”

“Story? Or a list of instructions?” Katie added.

“Exactly.”

Katie let out a sigh. “What bothers me is that the person got close enough to slip the note into my briefcase.”

“Did you notice anyone following you yesterday? Someone staring at you or making notes?”

“I’ve had some weird experiences, that’s for sure, but no, I haven’t seen anyone watching me.”

McGaven looked concerned.

“Don’t worry about me. My uncle has already played that card. I’m fine. Really,” she stressed her point. “I’m not a kindergarten teacher; I’m an army vet,anda police officer.”

He laughed. “You’re right.”

“What’s so funny?”