Page 32 of Little Girls Sleeping
“Excuse me, Sheriff Scott,” said Templeton.
“Yes?” the sheriff responded. His poker face never gave away what he felt at any given moment.
“With all due respect, Ms. Scott doesn’t have the required experience for this role. She was a patrol officer for Sacramento PD for what, two years?” The detective was trying to keep his tone civil and even.
The sheriff bristled and his shoulders stiffened. “Detective, remind me again who found the graves?”
“Yes, but—”
“And remind me why we wouldn’t use someone with great skill and doggedness who happens to be a police officer and a military veteran?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“Perhaps you would like to explain to Chelsea Compton’s parents why you don’t want to use the best resources you have at your disposal to find who murdered their child?”
The room hushed to silence—an uncomfortable quiet. The mayor stood side by side with the sheriff and it was clear there was no changing their minds on the matter.
Katie felt the light hairs on her arms and neck stand up. She kept looking straight ahead, and not to her right, where she knew the other detectives remained suspicious and Detective Templeton was staring daggers at her. Her uncle had told her about deputizing her and she was absolutely delighted, if a bit terrified, and couldn’t wait to get started officially on the case. To be a part of the investigation was something that felt right to her.
“One more thing,” said Templeton. “We all know about Ms. Scott’s amazing skill in hunting down victims…”
Katie could hear the contempt in his voice, but it was clear he wanted everyone else to buy his kind words.
“… but I would suggest that for the sake of this high-profile case, she should have someone overseeing her investigative techniques—just until she has more experience under her belt.” He sat down with a smug smile on his face.
“I concur. There are many leads to run down and new evidence to filter through. Plenty of work for everyone,” the sheriff said.
What?Katie looked directly at her uncle, not believing what he had just consented to on her behalf. This wasn’t what she had agreed to the previous night after several hours of discussion. There had been no mention of a partner—or, more accurately, a babysitter.
“I’ve already spoken to Deputy McGaven,” Sheriff Scott continued, gesturing toward the crowd.
Katie turned her attention to the officer her uncle had indicated. The large red-haired deputy glanced away sheepishly. It was clear from his posture and lack of eye contact that he wasn’t happy with his assignment.
“Deputy McGaven will be partnered with Detective Scott during this investigation until I deem otherwise.”The sheriff wrapped up the briefing. “No use wasting any more precious time. Let’s get to work.”
Katie entered the small meeting room as Detective Templeton was setting up at the podium. His crew took their seats, waiting to hear what the detective in charge had to say. She noticed that Deputy McGaven sat at a desk on the far side of the room and never gave her any acknowledgment.
This is going to be fun.
With nothing else to do, she took a seat and waited. She observed that the energy from the officers in the room was upbeat and happy, rather than serious and businesslike. Idle chatter seemed to be the first item on the agenda as the detectives laughed and joked about mundane things and a few senseless stories ensued.
Katie glanced at her watch and noted that it was already eleven a.m. and counting. Her mind raced through all the things she could be investigating and searching. Obviously, speaking with Chelsea’s parents, neighbors, forensics, and the medical examiner would be the priority. With all the clues and details from the gravesite indicating a ritualistic type of killer behavior— the carefully placed teddy bears and the premeditation without anger—it would appear they were looking for someone outside family and friends.
“Okay, okay, I’ll make this quick,” said Templeton as he quieted the room. “First, this case is going to take some real manpower and due diligence at our end if we want to catch the killer. However, I have my suspicions. Murderers usually don’t venture too far from the people closest to them. We haven’t ruled out the second body being someone who knew the Compton family. Alternatively, the killer could be trying to throw us off the trail with a victim who had nothing to do with Chelsea. We will begin with the family and see where it takes us.”
Katie thought at first he was kidding, but no, he seemed to believe that the first order of business was to find evidence that Chelsea’s family had killed her. She clenched her fists, trying not to say something rude despite her emotions.
Templeton wrapped up his impromptu pep talk and gave out instructions to every detective, standard protocol for the start of an investigation. Everyone began leaving the room and he still hadn’t given Katie her assignment. She waited a bit longer, until she saw he was about to leave himself.
“Excuse me,” she said. “What’s my assignment?” She moved closer to the detective and waited for an answer.
“Oh, that’s right,” he said sarcastically. “Ms. Scott.”
“Detective.”
“Yes, of course,Detective. I need you to collate all the incoming daily information and conduct searches for other detectives when necessary. And file anything that needs it.” He turned to leave.
“Is that it? Really? That’s your big plan? I think my skills could be used—”
