Page 19 of Last Girls Alive
“Hi,” McGaven said, taking the lead and looking at her name tag, “Cara.”
She smiled.
“I’m Deputy McGaven and this is my partner Detective Scott. We’re from the Pine Valley Sheriff’s Department. We’re here following up on an investigation. I wonder if you could help us?” he said with a smile.
“Sure,” she replied enthusiastically.
“Is Dr. Elgin here?”
“Yes, he is, but he’s in surgery at the moment.”
“I see. Well, I’m sure you can help us.”
“I’ll try,” she said and nervously laughed, glancing at Katie for the first time.
McGaven leaned against the counter like he was going to tell her a secret. “Our medical examiner just requested some x-rays for a Candace Harlan. And we need a little more information. Can you do that for us?”
“Well… I don’t know…” she stammered.
“We can get a warrant, but who wants to go through all that?” he said. “We just want to know when her last visit here was.”
“Well… okay…” she said and keyed up the computer. “You said Candace Harlan?”
“Yes.”
Cara clicked through several screens until she found what she was looking for. “Okay, yes, I see where her dental records were requested for ID.” She gasped. “Is she…?”
“We don’t know. That’s why we need more information. You are really helping us by doing this.”
Katie hoped that McGaven wasn’t laying the charm on too thick.
The doors opened and a woman with two little girls entered. They found a place to sit down and wait after finding some toys in a basket in the corner.
The receptionist left the desk and went to the files.
One of the little girls approached Katie. “Excuse me.”
“Yes?” she said, bending down to the little girl’s level.
“Are you a policeman?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Where’s your uniform?”
“I’m actually a detective. We don’t wear uniforms like the police officers on the streets.”
“Oh,” she said. “Is it scary?” She watched Katie with large blue eyes and an innocent expression.
“Well, sometimes. But that’s why I have a partner. We take care of each other.”
“Oh. Okay, thank you,” she said and then skipped back over to her mom and sister.
Katie smiled and moved her focus back to McGaven and the receptionist.
“Okay, here’s her file,” she said, opening it. “Ms. Harlan was here at the beginning of the year in February. She had a crown fixed and complained of teeth sensitivity.”
“I see,” said McGaven. “Do you remember her?”
