Page 102 of Her Last Whisper
Cisco was moreexcited than usual, emitting whines every so often, as he rode in the backseat of the police sedan. His regal face, alert ears, and attention focused on the road. It was impossible to ignore his enthusiasm as he looked out between Katie and McGaven.
“Are you going to let me drive—ever?” McGaven asked.
“What do you mean? You can drive whenever you want to.” She looked at her partner. “Oh, no, you’re not one of those, are you?”
“One of what?”
“Just because you’re a man you feel the need to drive all the time. I’m driving now because I know exactly where we are going.”
He sighed, trying to hide his smile. “I suppose.”
“Just sit back and enjoy the ride,” she said, partially laughing.
They both remained quiet, lost in their own thoughts about the investigation. The only audible sound in the car besides the revving engine was the sound of Cisco panting. It was not because he was hot. It was because he was excited, as working dogs become, when they instinctively know they are going to work or into unknown conditions with their handler.
Once again, Katie turned the car into the Basin Woods area. Maybe it was because she knew that the houses were empty or it was due to the fact that it conjured up creepy images, but she felt instantly uncomfortable. It was silly, she realized, but it still didn’t change her reaction. She had Cisco and McGaven with her but that still didn’t deter the slight chill she felt, driving down the streets littered with overgrown bushes and tree limbs along with tattered pieces of garbage rolling along like tumbleweeds.
“This is where Amanda referred to as the ‘big box’.” Katie gestured to the old phone box used for the housing area.
McGaven surveyed the area. He didn’t say anything but his body tensed as if he was being gripped by something unpleasant.
“She told Deputy Windham that it was a house with a blue door and white trim. And she knew how far it was with the landmarks. Windham adamantly believes that Amanda had told the truth—and I believe him. I think shewasheld here.”
“But there was no evidence in the house at that time to corroborate her story.”
“I know… this is what bothers me about this entire case—this house. Everything hinges on this house—the beginning—this is what set everything in motion. Now, after looking at those blueprints, I think there’s something weird about it.”
McGaven studied the houses around the old neighborhoods.
“At least it’s still daytime,” she said, trying to convince herself that it was just a routine search.
“What does the county plan to do with this area?”
“According to the planning department, they are going to demolish everything and build more affordable housing,” she explained.
“Great. It’ll take, what? Another ten or fifteen years to look like this again…”
“Here is the house Amanda described and even the bushes she landed on while escaping. There’s a small area of the open window that someone her size could fit through. So, it’s possible.”
Katie parked in the same area in front that she did before, lowering the windows slightly for Cisco while she and McGaven got out of the car.
“Don’t you want to take him?” he asked.
“No, he’s watching our backs. Anything or anyone moves within the neighborhood, he’ll bark like a banshee. No one can sneak up on us. And, I have a backdoor release just in case of an emergency.”
Following Katie up to the front blue door, he said, “Works for me.”
Katie didn’t want McGaven to see her hesitation, so she plowed forward and burst through the door, pushing it wide open. As before, the immediate stink accosted her senses with a mixture of urine and decomposing garbage.
“Nice smell. Smells like my first dorm room,” said McGaven partially covering his nose and mouth.
“You get used to it. Leave the door open for some air. What I don’t get is that Amanda said something about flowers, that she got the distinct fragrance, but it stinks like hell in here.”
Katie made sure her weapon was ready to use at a moment’s notice by unsnapping the guard on her holster. “I’ll go this way; you check out the kitchen area.”
McGaven moved through the house, carefully looking for anything that might prove to be a clue or evidence that Amanda had been in that house.
Katie continued toward the bedroom, easing her body down the hallway. Something appeared out of place. She pulled a copy of the blueprint out of her pocket—tracing her steps. The bedroom looked too small for the rest of the house and the layout was awkward. She wasn’t expecting a perfect house plan flow, but there was indeed a structural aspect that didn’t match the rest of the building.
