Page 70 of Her Last Whisper

“I could just imagine you as the drill sergeant for a bunch of four-year-olds.”

“Is that how you see me?”

“Sure,” he said still laughing. “Well, not quite.”

“I think you should put five bucks in that coffee can.”

“Hey,” McGaven said, back to his serious mode looking at the computer. “Have you checked your email?”

“Not this morning yet.”

“John has some preliminary stuff for us. There’s a match for a carpet fiber found under Amanda’s nail.”

Katie had risen from her chair and peered over McGaven’s shoulder, reading the reports on the computer screen. “The fiber was from inside a high-end vehicle.”

McGaven read the report. “It states there’s a high probability it was from a Mercedes, Lexus, or possibly some of the BMW models. But the company that supplied these carpets, Trevvo, is no longer in business. Now all three of these makes of car use a new company, Brenalin Works.” He moved to his notes and took a CD and inserted it into a laptop. “Check this out.” He smiled.

The video played showing Amanda walking toward the convenience store and the entire interplay with the unknown man.

“Can’t quite see the type of vehicle. BMW maybe?” she said. “Hand it over to John and see what he says.”

“Done.”

“Okay, we have a carpet fiber from a high-end car; Amanda was seen getting into a high-end car with an unknown man at 11p.m. on the evening before her body was found. Time of death was 2a.m. within a half hour. So between 11p.m. and 2a.m. Amanda ate a rich dinner and then was killed, driven to Whispering Pines and her body dumped.” She sat back. “It’s beginning to tell a story,” she said. “But why would Amanda not tell me that she was seeing someone?”

“Maybe she wasn’t seeing that person?” McGaven suggested. “And maybe the killer was taking extra precautions?”

Katie browsed her lists and tried to zero in more specifically, but they just didn’t have enough information. Her thoughts returned to Jane Doe.

“What’s going on in that brain of yours?” said McGaven.

“I keep going back to Amanda and her original story about being kidnapped, why I couldn’t find anything to prove she had been held, but her description of how to get to the house seemed accurate—and the deputies didn’t find anything either. Something isn’t right, and I just can’t see it—yet.” She let out a frustrated sigh.

“Maybe she just lied.”

“It’s possible—but we have to keep running down more evidence before settling on a definitive fact.”

“Yeah well, someone is trying to give you some intel,” he said and gestured to the notes. “And they’ve gotten really close to you in order to leave those messages. Seems pretty risky.”

“You’re starting to sound like my uncle.”

“Well, great mindsdothink alike,” he said, smiling. “Seriously, please be careful.”

“Noted,” Katie said. She tried not to sound like it bothered her, but in truth, it made her a little uneasy.

There was a sudden knock at the office door. Katie and McGaven looked at each other. It was strange to have visitors to their office.

“Come in,” Katie said.

The door opened; it was Sissy the upstairs receptionist. She carried a large bundle and put it on Katie’s desk. “Hi, this just came for you, Detective Scott, special courier from the county.”

“Oh great,” Katie said. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” the receptionist said as she hurried out of the office.

“Gifts,” McGaven said.

Katie was already unrolling it. “This is great.”