Page 12 of Her Last Whisper
Deputy Windham readjusted his weight in the chair, obviously uncomfortable with having spoken ill of one of his fellow police officers.
“I made a few calls. Amanda has quit her job and moved,” she said.
“That could mean she made everything up and doesn’t want to be found, or it could mean that she’s scared to death that her kidnapper will come back.” He looked away as if thinking about why she moved so abruptly.
“Since Detective Petersen downgraded it to a cold case… Maybe her story was created for you to believe her or at least sympathize with her. The house where she was held, you couldn’t find anything fitting her description?” Katie asked.
“There are certain things you learn on the street. After ten years on the job, I have a good sense of when people are lying and when they are telling the truth,” he said shifting in the chair. “It’s the things they say, don’t say, mannerisms, and slight gestures. I’ve seen it all.”
“So do you think she was lying?” Katie watched the deputy. He had a way about him that was compassionate and calm. It was difficult not to like him immediately.
“Quite the opposite. I think she was absolutely telling the truth.”
“Why?”
“She told us details—landmarks and specific details about the house—all without hesitation. My partner and I searched the streets for houses with blue doors with white trim. We found several, but found no evidence to suggest someone had been held there or had recently escaped. I knew there had to be something we were missing—anything to corroborate her story. But nothing surfaced. We tried, but the only outcome was understandably her frustration with us and then she stopped cooperating altogether,” he said.
Katie nodded in sympathy. “I see you noted that when you first had contact with her, she kept saying the word ‘truth.’ What do you think that means?”
“I honestly don’t know. She kept repeating it, claiming over and over again that she’s telling the truth.”
“You truly believe that she was coherent and wasn’t giving you something she had dredged up in a fantasy? Although her toxicology was clean—no drugs—prescription or otherwise.”
“She didn’t appear to be under the influence.”
“Maybe something went wrong with her date or with someone she’s known for a while? A sex game that got out of hand?” Katie pushed.
“I don’t think so. Something really spooked her—she was afraid and was still reeling from her experience when we found her.”
“I’m just trying to see both sides of the story. I’m going to pursue this case. It comes down to whether or not she made everything up and is lying to us, or if she wants this terrible experience behind her.”
“I see where you’re going with this, but that was what, six months ago, and I still feel the same way right now as I did that night. She was telling the truth,” he stated again.
Katie nodded. “I think there’s something more here too. I’m going to find her and talk with her and see if she can tell me anything new, or if she sticks to her story. If you think of something that I should look into, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“I will.” Deputy Windham stood up, making his uniform belt squeak from the numerous items he had attached, including his holstered gun. “Detective, there’s one thing I do know for sure.”
“What’s that?”
“Amanda Payton was scared to death of something, someone, and she might run because of it.”
After Deputy Windham left, Katie picked up the phone and pressed the double-digit number for the detective division. The phone rang once before someone answered, “Detective Division.”
“Hi, Alana,” said Katie.
“Hey, Detective Scott. How are you?”
“Can’t complain. I was wondering if Detective Petersen is in?”
“He sure is. You want me to transfer you?”
“No, I think I’ll come up for a visit.”
“Great.”
“See you in a little bit,” said Katie and she hung up.
Outside the doorto the detective division, Katie clutched the Amanda Payton file to her chest feeling conspicuous and somewhat of an outsider even though she was an investigator just like them. She’d received quite a lot of heat from a fellow detective when she’d originally been called in to help with the missing girl’s case. Thankfully, he was no longer working for the sheriff’s department, but she knew there were still others who resented her because her uncle was the sheriff.
