Page 18 of Her Last Whisper
“I don’t know. It might just be me, but I feel like he’s around every corner… I can’t live like this…”
“What about your apartment? Maybe someone you’ve seen coming and going from there?”
“No. I… I don’t think so…”
“Is there anyone who might want to hurt you? Or anyone that has ever threatened you before or since then?” Katie pushed. “I’m sorry, but I have to ask these questions. Maybe you might remember someone, an incident, something that didn’t seem important at the time, but maybe now might.”
Amanda sighed and said, “No. I’ve wracked my brain but I can’t think who woulddosomething like that?” she said, almost on the verge of crying.
“The report said that you were tied up for about a week. Five or six days? Is that correct?”
“Yes. I… I think it was five, maybe six days. I’m not exactly sure. It was hard to know the amount of days—when it was day or night. It seemed like a lifetime.” She hesitated, taking a deep breath. “I really don’t know why you’re here asking all these questions. I’ve answered these already. Do you have any suspects?” she countered.
“No, but I’m looking into your case,” Katie said. “During the entire time you were held, you never once saw his face? Not even a glimpse?”
She shook her head and shuddered at the very thought of him. “No.”
Katie made a couple of notes about Amanda’s answers and her obvious still terrified demeanor.
“Why are you dragging all this back up again? Do you at least have any new leads?” Amanda sat back in fear. “Did another woman come forward? Or worse…”
“I need to gather all the information that I can get from every possible source,” Katie said gently, trying to keep her voice calm and to maintain Amanda’s focus. “Amanda, I’m on your side. I want to find the person that did this.”
“You didn’t answer me. Did another woman come forward?” she asked directly.
“No,” Katie replied. “But I’m going to be looking into other cases for any similarities to your case, so that’s why I need to know every little thing that you can remember. Anything that will help me.”
“D-did he kill someone?” Her body trembled as she ignored Katie’s answer.
“There haven’t been any homicides that would indicate a link. You or any other woman should never be afraid because of what he did—and I’m going to do everything I can to catch him for you.”
Amanda’s eyes filled with tears as she nodded, appearing to understand what Katie was telling her.
“Is thereanythingyou can remember that’s not in your report—no matter how small it might seem to you.” Katie reverted back to her field training and how important it was to use all the senses. “Smells? Something you might’ve touched? Any little sound? Anything at all?”
“I don’t know—I told the deputy everything,” she said. “But… maybe there was this smell, like spring, or something.”
“What do you mean?” Katie asked.
“Flowers. Honeysuckle or lilac, something like that. Wait, no, it was jasmine. I’m sure of it.”
“Was there a window open? It was still summer. Or was it only when the man was there, like he was wearing cologne or used a particular soap?”
Amanda’s mood suddenly changed, shaken by Katie’s probing questions, at being forced to take herself back to that moment. “I can’t talk to you—I can’t keep going back to that time. There’s nothing more I can tell you that I haven’t already told the police. Please… please just go.”
Katie rose from the chair. “Amanda, I assure you that I’m going to do everything I can to catch this man.”
“So how many police officers are working my case? Huh?” She paused, waiting for the hint of a response from Katie. “It’s just you, isn’t it?” Tears welled up in her eyes again.
“For now, I’m working your case, but I can assure you that I have more detectives at my disposal.” Katie knew that she was stretching the truth a bit, but she needed to gain Amanda’s confidence. She was doing everything she could, and would continue to do so.
“Detective Scott, is it? Please leave.” Her voice was now stern.
Katie wanted to reassure her in every way possible, but she was just as concerned as Amanda was about this man still roaming for potential victims. She reached into her pocket and retrieved a business card. “My personal cell is on the back. If you think of anything or just need someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to call me.” She put the card on the small end table next to the prescription bottles. She couldn’t see the name of the type of medication.
Amanda fought back tears with her arms crossed in front of her, hugging herself for dear life.
Katie was going to say something more, but realized that there was nothing left to say. She had done everything she could—at least for now.
