Page 36 of The Whispering Girls

“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 Devinclaimed 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.