Page 18 of The Whispering Girls (Detective Katie Scott #14)

SEVENTEEN

Katie and McGaven drove to the café, where there were many trucks and cars parked. It seemed to be the place to eat lunch as well as breakfast.

“I think my stomach is grumbling,” said McGaven.

“Are you sure that wasn’t Cisco?” she said.

“Funny.” He made a face at her. “I am kinda hungry.”

Katie had been lost in her thoughts about Theresa’s apartment. It had occurred to her that someone could have staged it to appear as if everything was fine. The pillows, the dishes, and knickknacks were too perfect. It made a statement, but not that there wasn’t anything wrong.

“I guess you aren’t hungry?” he said.

Katie nodded. “But I could eat and Cisco needs a break.” She decided to drive around to the back of the restaurant instead of parking in front.

McGaven remained quiet and surveyed the area.

It was dirt instead of gravel or pavement.

The trees led you down a slight incline where there were two available parking spaces.

Katie assumed it was for deliveries and maybe the manager.

She easily pulled into a space. On the farther end, there were three cars she assumed belonged to staff.

Katie noticed two large garbage bags leaning against the wall near the back door.

It seemed odd because the dumpster was only fifteen feet away.

There was also a mop, bucket, and wet towels.

Cisco stood up and forced his big head toward Katie.

“Wait…I’ll let you out in a little bit,” she said. She got out of the Jeep and was immediately struck with the intense aroma of the pine trees. She took a moment.

“Front door?” said McGaven.

“Definitely.”

Katie and McGaven opened the front door and walked inside. The small restaurant was busy, with every table and counter space filled with patrons. The conversation levels were high. It was obvious they were all locals and this was their regular eatery.

“Hi, can I help you?” said a middle-aged woman wearing an apron. She looked around and then back to McGaven. “It’ll probably be about fifteen minutes.”

“May we speak to you for a moment?” said Katie.

“Uh, sure.”

They moved toward the far end of the restaurant where the extra supplies were stacked.

“What’s your name?” said McGaven.

“I’m Gladys Miner, owner of this place. And you two are?” She eyed them suspiciously, noticing their badges and guns.

“I’m Detective Scott and this is my partner, Detective McGaven.”

“Detectives? You have to be from out of town.”

“Yes,” Katie said.

“Oh…it must be about that girl in the woods,” she whispered, looking around.

Katie nodded .

“We’re sorry to tell you this, but she’s been identified as Theresa Jamison,” said McGaven.

Gladys looked shocked and deeply saddened. “Are you sure?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Oh, Lord have mercy. She was such a wonderful girl, never complained, and the customers loved her.” The woman looked down, holding back the tears, rubbing her hands on her apron.

Katie saw there were two waitresses and they were busy. “I know this is not a good time, but could you answer a few questions?”

“Of course.”

“When was the last time you saw Theresa?” said Katie.

“Her last shift was three nights ago.”

“Did she seem different? Did she seem like something was bothering her?”

“No, she seemed like she usually did. And, if I remember correctly, it was really busy that shift. So many people coming and going with eat-in and takeouts.”

“Do you know who Devin Bradley is?” said McGaven.

“Yes, of course.”

“Do you know where he lives?”

“I’ll do you one better.” Gladys turned and went to the kitchen, clearly expecting the detectives to follow. There was a large man cooking over the grill and toward the far end was a young man prepping food. “Devin,” she said.

The young man with dark hair wearing a white T-shirt and a green-and-white apron looked up and saw the detectives. He dropped his knife, turned, and ran out of the back of the restaurant.

“Devin!” said Gladys again in a surprised tone.

“I’ll go this way,” said Katie as she ran out of the front door.

McGaven had no other choice and followed the young man out the back .

Katie had backtracked and met McGaven almost at the same time behind the restaurant. Her partner ran after Devin, who disappeared into the woods.

Cisco barked from the Jeep.

Katie stopped. The trails seemed to parallel and most likely intercepted. She saw McGaven disappear into the trees, so she took another trail and hoped it wasn’t a bad decision.

Katie hit the path running and was immediately surrounded within a narrow hiking trail.

She felt the brush scratch her arms and had to duck a few tree branches.

She also heard McGaven calling out for the Devin to stop.

His voice echoed strangely around her and she remembered the town was called Echo Forest and she had heard that strange voice and soft whispers among the trees since she had been there.

McGaven was close and Katie felt confident she could pass them and then cut them off. She ran faster. Arms pumping as her legs moved swifter. Embracing the moment of a good solid run as her heavy breaths took in the splendid aromas of the forest.

Katie slowed her pace as she saw another path intercepting, so she veered to the right. Between her deep breaths and heart pounding, she couldn’t make out if she still heard McGaven, Devin, or footsteps.

Approaching the main path that her partner and Devin had taken, Katie could finally hear footsteps and heavy breathing nearing her position. She stepped back and saw the white T-shirt approaching. Without another second to spare, Katie lunged out and tackled the young man.

“Let go,” he said, squirming.

“Hey,” said McGaven breathing hard. “You got him?”

Katie got hold of Devin and pulled him to his feet. “Stop. When we say stop…you stop! Understand?”

“Who are you?” gasped the young man not trying to pull away .

“We wanted to ask you some questions,” said McGaven slowing his breathing. “We’re Detectives Scott and McGaven.”

Katie glanced at her partner and then back to Devin. “Who are you running from?”

“I… I… thought…”

“Thought what?” said Katie trying to get a read on him. He seemed scared, shaking a little.

His wide eyes darted back and forth from Katie to McGaven. “I thought you were…”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.”

“Has someone contacted you? Threatened you?” she said.

Devin took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. “I’ve had some things go missing. Not just misplacing stuff…but strange things have been disappearing.”

Katie’s mind sprinted through possible scenarios. She was becoming less convinced he was a suspect. “Like what?”

“Tools, rope, and towels, stuff like that.” He looked at the detectives. “Even looked like someone dug up some rocks around my cabin.”

“I see,” said Katie.

“And…one of Theresa’s sweaters…”

“You mean Theresa Jamison?”

Devin nodded. “I thought…” He held back tears. “I thought you were here to arrest me for her…murder.”

“We’re here to investigate her murder. We need to talk to people who knew her and try to backtrack her last week or so,” said Katie.

“C’mon,” said McGaven. “Let’s go back and have a chat.”

As Katie and McGaven escorted Devin back to the restaurant, they all remained quiet.

Katie expected a whisper to swirl around the group, but it didn’t occur this time.

Her thoughts immediately jumped to the conclusion that the items Devin claimed to be missing were used by the killer to stage the crime scene. It remained to be seen.

Katie and Devin sat in a back booth in the Sunrise Café while McGaven chatted with some regulars and employees about Theresa.

“Devin, tell me about your relationship with Theresa,” said Katie.

“We’ve known each other since middle school, but when I started working here we became close. About a year and a half now.”

“Had anything seemed out of the ordinary with Theresa? Did she seem moody or maybe frightened?”

“No. Don’t you think I’ve retraced the last time I saw her and tried to figure this out?”

“When was the last time you saw her?” she said.

“Monday night. We worked the same shift together and then we went back to my place and had a couple of beers.”

Katie listened intently trying to put things in order.

“This town…I found out about…about her being the…victim…this morning from my neighbor who heard it from a friend who knows one of the cops.”

“I’m sorry for your loss. Had Theresa met anyone new lately? Or mentioned being in touch with someone from the past?”

“No…I don’t think so…I don’t know.”

Katie kept her patience and noticed that question made Devin edgy and nervous. She knew there had to be something different or new that had happened in Theresa’s life recently. But what?

“What about a neighbor at her apartment building?” she said, glancing at her partner talking with a couple at a table but not quite able to hear what they were discussing .

“I never saw them. I think one of the apartments is empty and the two others never seemed to be home when I would go over to her house.”

Now we’re getting somewhere… Katie saw some ways someone could have kept tabs on her at home.

“Detective, I will help in any way I can… Theresa was special. She had plans of going back to school and was saving money. She wanted to be a nurse…and now…”

Katie retrieved a small notebook and pen from her pocket, pushing it across the table. “Devin, can you write down your address and phone number?”

“Of course.” He wrote them down.

“Did Theresa have any sisters or cousins?”

“No, she never said anything about her family.”

“We may need to contact you again.” Katie wanted to put the young man at ease until they could eliminate him as a possible suspect.

Gladys approached the table. “Excuse me. Devin, I’m going to need you to start prepping for dinner.”

Katie stood up. “We’re finished here.” She turned to Devin. “Thank you. Sorry about the tackle.”

“You have a pretty good tackle.” Devin tried to smile.

Katie watched Devin walk back to the kitchen. She picked up the notebook.

“Hey,” said McGaven.

“Find out anything?” she said as they walked to the door.

“Some. But I’m afraid it’s mostly gossip.”

“A place to start.”

“What about you?” he said.

“C’mon, I’ll fill you in. But first, Cisco needs a break.”

“Ten-four.”