Page 70 of The Whispering Girls

Stu Jenkins (Manager at Crane Flooring) Interviewed

Bill Westin (Installer at Crane Flooring) POI Not interviewed yet.

Police:

Chief Beryl Cooper

Officer Bobby Clark

Officer Terrance Banning

Katie had also noted a few other things they were in the dark about:

Woodsman(In reference to what?)

The name on the bench along one of the nearby trails: Carol Ann Benedict(Who was she?)

Katie stepped back and studied the lists. The first thing she noticed was that there was still little to go on as they waited for reports from other sources. But she knew they had to move forward with what they had and act accordingly. The bloody, written words found on the bathroom wall resonated in her mind.

Three down…more to go…

“What are you thinking?” said John.

“We don’t have enough information and we’re supposed to wait for other agencies to respond. The medical examiner’s office and the crime laboratory,” said Katie. She was sure John sensed her frustration.

“Tell me what your gut says.”

Katie thought a moment. She hated giving open theories because that’s not how she worked cases, but under the circumstances there wasn’t much of a choice. “Honestly?”

“Just throw it out. You’re not being tested,” he said.

“It’s that easy?”

“Yeah, just do it. Tell me what you really think and don’t worry about the facts.”

“I think this town has some old wounds and secrets. I think the cold case of a woman who was murdered fifteen years ago may be the key. I couldn’t find any information on her, not even a name. But I have a suspicion that the name on the bench along the park trail—Carol Ann Benedict—could be her.” She took a breath and stared at the fire.

John watched her. He never pushed her, always gave her space. “Okay, we can work with that.”

“I also think a good portion of the town is keeping things from us. When I first met Chief Cooper at Theresa’s crime scene, he definitely didn’t trust me and didn’t want my help. But then, like overnight, he’s been helpful and appreciative.”

“So you think he’s working with you to distract you from something else?”

“Maybe? I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t have enough to work with to make a constructive approach and move forward.”

“So tell me, whereisthe chief now?”

“I don’t know. We can’t get ahold of the two officers, Clark and Banning, either.” She began to pace the large room, making Cisco sit up and stare at her. “I tried calling the police department, where they have an assistant, Libby, and there’s no answer there either. Just a way to leave a voicemail.”

“So can the town call nine-one-one?”

“I don’t know. It probably goes to the county sheriff’s department and they’ll dispatch accordingly.”

John stood up and stopped her from pacing. “Katie. This iswhat we’ve been given right now. There’s plenty to work on. Give yourself a break.”

Katie met John’s gaze. She could tell he cared about her. Perhaps he cared more than he let on. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”