Page 27 of The Whispering Girls (Detective Katie Scott #14)

TWENTY-SIX

Katie and McGaven packed the Jeep carefully with the belongings of TJ from the Valley Motel. Now they had an identity and a name—Tamara Lambert—but they still had to put all the pieces together in order to see how the murders were connected.

They had coordinated a time to chat with Theresa’s friend, Tami.

As they drove over to a small coffeehouse, One Cup, to talk to Officer Clark’s sister, McGaven put a call in to Chief Cooper.

No answer. He decided to send a text instead about the motel, what they had found, and where they were going.

“No answer?” said Katie.

McGaven shook his head. “He doesn’t seem to be available—even after last night. I tried a couple of times this morning. It’s odd.”

“Think he might be overwhelmed?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t been around him enough to get a strong sense of his personality.”

Katie figured she had about ten minutes before they got to the coffee place. “Can I let you in on something that’s bothering me?” she said, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

Cisco whined and pushed his head toward Katie.

“Is it bad?”

“No,” she said slowly. “But it has bothered me for a while.”

“My breath?”

“What?”

“I know with all that beef I eat…”

“No.” She laughed. “I know you’re trying to make light of this, but…”

“Is this to stay between us?”

“Yes.”

“Shoot.”

“I can’t seem to get my head around Jack. He’s been amazingly accommodating, but there’s something amiss.”

“Why do you think that?” McGaven eyed her curiously.

“How many vets do you know who can run a crime scene? And he’s pretty efficient at it when he does, which is unexpected when there hasn’t been a murder here for fifteen years.”

“Have you asked him where he learned how to be so efficient ?”

“He told me he trained at the police academy a long time ago before he switched to veterinary science, but that wouldn’t account for it. I’ve asked about his past in a friendly manner, but he always finds a way to divert the question.”

“You mean he’s cagey?” he said.

“A little bit.” Katie found a parking space along the street and pulled in. “Maybe it’s his private business, but…”

“But what?”

“He seems too involved in these cases while claiming to know nothing about them.”

“And?”

“Can you do a background on him?” When Katie said it aloud it did sound a bit crazy, but they had no idea who they were really dealing with in Echo Forest. He wasn’t law enforcement, but the town vet. Still…

McGaven turned his gaze out the window watching a few people walk by wearing heavy coats. “Katie, you know I respect you and I would have your back in any situation. But are you sure?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Okay, but I don’t want to see it blow up in our faces.”

“It’s on the down-low, just between us. No bringing the chief or the officers into this,” she said.

“Of course. I haven’t been around him very much, but what I’ve seen is a very skilled crime scene technician and nice guy.

But if something bothers you…then I’ll get to the bottom of it.

” McGaven pet Cisco and the dog’s tail thumped against the back seat.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get you a treat, or maybe a pup cup? ”

Cisco gave a low bark.

The detectives exited the vehicle and walked to One Cup. The coffee aroma was strong; the small business must be roasting its beans. The front facade was festive with a creative design revolving around drinking coffee. There were several outdoor tables, but it was too cold to stay outside.

McGaven opened the door and a hanging set of bells jingled to alert the baristas someone had arrived. Katie felt the warm air hit her body, along with the smell of coffee and pastries. She felt the calmest she had since she arrived.

A young woman sat in the corner already enjoying a hot coffee drink with whipped cream swirled on top.

Her short bob haircut and dark hair made her stand out, and there was a resemblance to Officer Clark.

She was wearing jeans and fur-lined boots and was still dressed in her bright red coat.

She busily slid her index finger over her cell phone and didn’t immediately see the detectives enter.

Katie approached the table. “Tami Clark?”

The young woman looked up. “Yes? ”

“We’re Detectives Scott and McGaven,” she said. “We wanted to speak with you.”

“Oh, yes. Bobby told me to meet you,” she said as her eyes lit up.

Katie pulled out a chair and sat down.

“I’ll be back,” said McGaven as he headed to order some coffee. The detectives commonly split up when interviewing someone. It made people feel more at ease, so it was McGaven’s turn to head off.

“Is it true there’s a serial killer on the loose?” said Tami as her eyes opened wide with curiosity.

“We’re working on the cases but that hasn’t been established yet.”

“Still, it’s scary,” she said, sipping her drink.

“You knew Theresa Jamison?”

She nodded. “We went to school together ever since kindergarten.”

“So you knew her well?”

She shrugged. “Kinda.”

“What do you mean?”

“We weren’t besties, but we knew each other.”

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

Tami thought for a moment. “It was a couple of weeks ago. I think it was the day before she was murdered…but I’m not sure.”

“What do you mean?”

“I saw her in here two weeks ago, but she was in a hurry, so we just said hi.”

“And?”

“Then I think I saw her riding in a truck a little later, which I thought was weird. It drove by just up the street. I remember thinking that she looked really upset and wondered who was driving.”

“Where was the truck heading? ”

“I don’t know.”

“What direction was it heading?”

“Oh. It was going north, uptown, you know, heading out toward the fields.”

“Did Theresa have any sisters?” Katie was testing Tami to see what she would say.

“No. She was an only child.”

Katie reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. She showed the driver’s license photograph of TJ. “Have you ever seen her?”

Tami really looked at the photograph. Then she shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. But…she kinda looks like Theresa.”

“What about Theresa’s boyfriend Devin?”

“He’s a loser. Sorry, I don’t want to sound mean, but he is. He used to get into trouble all the time. He lived with his dad for a while…I think he was in construction.”

“I see,” said Katie.

Tami leaned forward. “I heard Devin was living alone because his parents disappeared.”

“What do you mean, disappeared?”

“I don’t know…just talk maybe. There’s a lot of talk in this town.” Tami’s phone dinged with text alert. “I’ve got to go. I’m meeting someone.” She stood up. “You need anything more?”

“Do you know the nurse who was murdered at the hospital last night? Natalie Renaldo?”

“Umm. No. Anything else?” She seemed bored and had her mind on other things.

“Oh, one more thing,” said Katie.

Tami took her eyes away from her phone.

“Does the Woodsman mean anything to you?”

“Woodsman?” she repeated.

“Yes.”

She shrugged, but her eyes and the expression on her face seemed to change. “Nope. Unless you mean some reality show where guys chop down really big trees?” She made a half smile. “Is that it?”

“I think we’re good for now. Thanks.”

“Text me anytime.” Tami left.

Katie leaned back in her chair and thought about what Tami had told her. The young woman didn’t seem to be hiding anything, but her body language changed when Katie had brought up the Woodsman.

“Hey,” said McGaven sitting down. “Anything?”

“One of those for me?” she said referring to the two coffee drinks.

“Here.” McGaven slid one over to his partner.

“What’s in the bag?”

“Nothing.”

Katie gave him the look that she didn’t believe him.

“All right. I’ll share my cinnamon roll, but it’s under protest.” He tore off a piece for her.

“Thank you.”

“So, anything new?” he said.

“Not really, but she did say that she’d never seen TJ before…and she stated that TJ looked like Theresa.”

“Interesting,” he said munching on the cinnamon bun.

“She thought Devin was a loser. And mentioned that she thought she saw Theresa riding in the passenger seat of a pickup truck the day before she was murdered—not looking very happy.”

“Don’t know what to think about that. Think it was the last person she was with before being killed?”

“It’s possible.”

“Here’s your pup cup,” said the barista and set it down. It was a small cup with whipped cream.

“Thank you.”

“You’re going to spoil Cisco,” she said smiling.

“It’s the least I could do since he’s got to hang out in the car while we interview people and check out places. Was there anything else from Tami?”

“A strange thing…when I asked her about the Woodsman, she seemed to be a little frightened.”

“What’s with this Woodsman?”

“The fear on TJ’s face every time she said it spooked even me,” Katie said. “I did some searches but nothing much came up.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

A text came into Katie’s cell. She looked at it.

“Chief?” said McGaven.

“No, it’s John. He’s back at the lodge and has some things to tell us.”

McGaven stood up. “Let’s go.”

“I was thinking that Cisco needs a crime scene search before we return,” she said. “There’s still daylight.”

“Let me guess… the second victim in the park?”

She nodded. “I was thinking since it was so dark when we were there, even though we had lighting…I want to go look around before going back to the lodge.”

“Anything specific you’re looking for?”

“Drag marks and tire impressions. We can grab a quick bite before going out there.”

“I’m in.”