Page 17 of The Whispering Girls (Detective Katie Scott #14)

SIXTEEN

Katie and McGaven decided to take the Jeep instead of McGaven’s truck. With Cisco in the back seat, it made it easier for the detectives to have a vehicle that could go off road and blend in.

“Don’t forget we meet with Clark and the chief this evening,” said Katie, taking a turn down Main Street.

“Yep.”

Katie was relieved that the weather was moderate and not as cold as it had been since her arrival.

She studied the streets, buildings, and several entrances to hiking trails they passed, and reckoned the killer must have known the area well—either by living in or near Echo Forest currently or at one time—to get about undetected.

“What’s up?” said McGaven as he shifted in the passenger seat adjusting his gun belt. The seat was almost too short for a man well over six feet.

She smiled. “You know me so well.”

“You’re just figuring that out now?”

“Doesn’t this investigation seem a bit strange?”

“Well, let me see…our headquarters is set up at a swanky lodge in the woods, two women have been murdered and posed in the wilderness, and our backup is two officers with no experience with homicide… Oh, and the local vet handles the crime scenes and stores dead bodies in his fridge. Nah, nothing strange.”

Katie couldn’t help but laugh. “When you spell it out like that.”

“At least our work isn’t boring.”

Cisco let out a bark.

“See, even Cisco thinks so,” said McGaven. The detective turned in his seat to pet the dog. “You probably already know who the killer is, don’t you, buddy…”

“That’s a given,” she said.

Katie turned onto Spruce Street and slowed her speed, looking for 172.

McGaven studied the area. “There are a lot of blind spots.”

Katie knew what he meant. It was an older area where vintage houses had been turned into apartments.

The trees were large and many stood like umbrellas over the sidewalk and parking areas.

Native ivy and flowering plants weren’t in bloom at the moment, but they would have made it difficult to see who was around if someone had been stalking Theresa in previous weeks.

Katie pulled up to the curb in between the addresses 172 and 174, which were remodeled one-story houses.

“I feel like I stepped back in time,” McGaven said.

“I agree.” Katie looked around at both sides of the street .

“It looks like there are four apartments: 111, 112, 113, and 114. And Theresa’s looks to be around back.”

“Let’s go,” she said and opened the door.

There were a couple of whines, but then Cisco retreated and lay down in the back seat.

Katie paused as she stood on the sidewalk facing the apartments.

This was typical of her as they investigated, whether it was a home or a workplace.

She used all her senses, focusing on the immediate task at hand.

It helped to stop her from assuming anything and to check her instincts were in tune.

McGaven waited patiently at the gate. Neither detective spoke. When Katie walked to the gate, McGaven followed her through.

The fine gravel path crunched beneath their feet as they made their way to a patio that wrapped around the building.

There, several pots, now empty, decorated the side in bright blues and greens.

The first door said it was 111, so Katie followed the path to the right.

There was a slight smell of fresh paint and the window trim and doors were glossy. That gave Katie pause.

“Looks like there have been workers here recently. Painters? Contractors? Landscapers? Maybe try to dig up who was here?” she said.

McGaven nodded.

Around the back of the building, the detectives noticed there was a slight ravine with even more trees scattered about. It would be an area where someone could get onto the property without being noticed.

“Here it is,” said McGaven.

They stood in front of 112. The door had been recently painted and the apartment number had been replaced with bright gold digits. A welcome mat, a pot, and a silly gnome decorated the entrance.

Katie studied the door. “Wait.”

“What? ”

“Look at the doorframe.”

There was a dark smudge across the frame and the siding near the lock. It was obvious someone had pried at it recently.

“That looks recent. Really recent,” she said.

McGaven looked at it closer and frowned.

“I think we need forensics,” she said.

“Call Jack?”

“This is where things get tricky.” Katie looked around and then her eyes settled on the gnome. She moved it and underneath there was a single house key. “I wish people wouldn’t do this.” She snatched up the key.

McGaven dug out gloves from his pocket. “Call Jack. And we will be extra careful entering the apartment, making notes for any evidence that needs to be documented.”

Katie immediately dialed the vet and was surprised he answered on the second ring.

“Dr. Thomas.”

“It’s Katie.”

“Good morning. What can I do for you?”

Katie thought that he sounded exceptionally chipper today. “We’re at Theresa’s apartment and it looks like someone recently tried to pry the door open.”

“You need documentation and possible collection?”

“Yes.”

“What’s the address?”

“172 Spruce Street, apartment 112.”

There was a slight pause before he answered. “I can be there in about fifteen to twenty minutes.”

“Great. Thank y—” The call ended. “Okay…” she said.

“What?”

“That was abrupt.”

“Katie, you know we’re in a very small town and people can be a little different,” he said.

“I guess.” She put on her gloves and then inserted the key into the lock. The knob was stuck and it took a couple of minutes to get the door open.

“Looks like someone messed with the lock,” McGaven said.

Katie pushed the door open. “Hello?” she said just to make sure no one was around. “Police. Anyone here?”

Satisfied the apartment was not occupied, both detectives stepped inside and stood at the threshold.

It was a small one-bedroom apartment, which could have easily been a studio to give it a more spacious feel.

There was no sofa, but a large comfortable chair with a side table in the corner, and a small two-shelf unit on the other side.

There was also a bistro table with two chairs near a small kitchen with a stove, single counter, and sink along another wall.

Besides the area being rather small, it still had a cozy personal feeling.

There were a couple of homemade quilts, some artwork on the walls, pillows on the chair, and a pile of books on the floor.

A vase of silk flowers was on the table and the kitchen was tidy, with a folded towel on the counter along with a washed plate, silverware, and a glass.

Katie moved into the room. It didn’t look like there had been a struggle and the space was neat and tidy. What struck her most was that this apartment seemed to belong to someone who was happy and enjoyed her home.

Katie walked into the tiny bedroom, which had a twin daybed and small vertical dresser.

The bed was made and its blankets precisely folded.

Several pillows were piled in order. The dresser had a couple of figurines, some cut-glass pieces, and two picture frames.

In one frame, there was a photo of Theresa and two older people, which Katie assumed to be her parents.

In another frame were Theresa and a young man.

They seemed close and Katie expected that it was a close friend or boyfriend.

“Hey,” said McGaven from the kitchen.

Katie met up with her partner.

“I found this in the drawer,” he said. “It’s her address book. I haven’t seen a laptop or cell phone. ”

“Seems strange.”

McGaven thumbed through the names and phone numbers.

“Anything?”

“This looks like her parents on this page. Have they been contacted?” he said.

“I’m assuming Officer Clark has that under control.”

McGaven gave her a look as if to convey that the officer may not.

Just then Katie’s phone rang. “Speak of the devil.” She answered it and put it on speaker. “Detective Scott. You’re on speaker.”

“Scott. Is McGaven with you?” said Clark.

“Yes. We’re at Theresa’s apartment.”

“I’ve pulled her cell phone records.”

“There isn’t a cell phone or computer here,” she said.

“Huh. Well, I’m looking at the call lists and it seems that there were a number of calls in the past week from a…Devin Bradley…and two days before her body was found there were at least a dozen calls from him but they lasted only five or ten seconds.”

“Can you forward the lists to us?” said McGaven.

“No problem.”

McGaven opened the address book and found Devin Bradley’s phone number and address. Katie glanced at it.

“When we finish up here we’re going to the Sunrise Café to see what they have to say about Theresa,” she said. “Then we’ll check out Devin Bradley.”

“Okay. I’ll keep you posted as things come in,” said the officer. “We’re in the process of contacting family.”

“Thanks. We’ll see you at the meeting with the chief.”

“See you then,” he said and ended the call.

“Is there possibly a photo of Devin?” said McGaven. “If he’s her boyfriend. ”

“I think it’s the one in Theresa’s bedroom.”

Katie went in there and grabbed the frame. McGaven took a photo of it with his cell phone.

The front doorknob rattled.

Katie and McGaven instantly got in place on either side of the door.

They watched the knob turn slowly and the door inch open.

Katie grabbed the door and flung it open wide.

McGaven had his gun ready.

“I guess you weren’t expecting me this soon,” said Jack. His expression wasn’t relaxed, but he tried to make it a joke.

Katie exhaled.

McGaven said, “You are very quiet.”

Jack smiled. “I can see that you two are ready for anything.” He walked into the living room.

Ignoring the statement, Katie stepped aside. “Nothing suggests there was a struggle or anything, there’s no sign someone had visited her. Single dishes. Everything organized.”

Jack stood in the middle of the room and slowly took a three-hundred-sixty-degree turn. “You want everything documented?”

“Yes, just overall would be fine.” Katie walked to the front entrance. “And this,” she said and pointed to the pried area around the lock.

“Got it.”