Page 47 of Fight or Flight
They gathered in the kitchen, each finding a spot around the large island. Doc poured cups of coffee while Tyler told the officers what had happened as best he could recall. “Once you view the surveillance footage and take a walk through the house, you’ll have more of a visual of what I just told you.”
Ilene perked up. “There is something else, Tyler. Tell Ray and George about that fan page thing.”
Tyler took a sip of coffee. “Right.”
“Why would Ms.Winnie”—Davidson emphasized the fake name—“have a fan page?” He truly couldn’t imagine her being a fan of anyone, unless it had something to do with her agoraphobia. Maybe a support group of others with the same issue?
Tyler glanced at Doc, who shook his head slightly. His way of telling him not to break the doctor/patient confidentiality agreement they shared, even though the knowledge wasn’t just a medical issue.
“That’s not for me to tell,” Tyler said. “From what I gather, Katherine is worried about one of . . . ”—he paused—“her friends, a young girl who might be in trouble. Don’t ask me whatkindof trouble. She received a phone call at dinner that seemed to upset her.”
“Do you know who her caller was?” Detective Davidson asked.
“No. The phone rang, and she saw the number and hung up without saying anything. Afterward, she seemed antsy. Later, she excused herself to the powder room for a few minutes, and she had the phone in her pocket. When she returned to the kitchen, I could tell she was upset, but it wasn’t my place to interrogate her.” Tyler would not betray her trust.
“Do you mind telling me why you were here tonight?” Davidson asked.
Doc spoke up. “Is that necessary?” He put his cup in the sink, then took the barstool beside Tyler. “He’s a doctor.”
Detective Davidson scribbled in his notebook. With the camera dangling from his neck, George leaned against the refrigerator, listening to his superior.
“Ray, the reason I calledyouis your propensity for discretion. You too,” Ilene said to George. “I want you to dust for prints, check the perimeter of this massive house, and see what your thoughts are after you view the surveillance video. I didn’t ask you because of your good looks. Or yours.” She nodded in the deputy’s direction. “If you feel you can’t be discreet, leave now.”
“Tell me what youthinkI should know, Ms. Silva. If there is an online predator, it’s highly possible they could be involved in this.” Davidson closed his ever-present notebook.
Ilene understood Katherine’s reluctance to call the authorities. These two were stiff as boards. She knew Ray but not George. Ray said he was the best and could be trusted. What in the hell happened to “you do me a favor; I’ll owe you one in return”? Ilene knew the old ways of dealing with investigations were no longer like they were at the height of her career, but still—she’d expected Ray and his partner to cut her some slack. She hadn’t planned onforcingthem to do what she asked. She’d made it quite clear what she expected. “I know absolutely nothing about an online friend or predator. I just met the woman myself.”
“We’re getting nowhere, you guys. I wish I had more to tell you but, as Ms. Silva said, I’m a doctor, and I can’t talk about my patient. Other than to tell you I just met her yesterday, too,” Tyler said. His gaze hardened when he looked at the detective.
“Then your visit yesterday and tonight are medically related?” Davidson pushed.
Beyond frustrated, Ilene raised her voice. “Ray, it’s none of your damned business. I asked you here to investigate a break-in, not interrogate my friends. Can you focus on that? Maybe we can look at those videos now?”
“Understood,” the detective replied. To George, he said, “See if you find any prints on those French doors and the desk while I look at the surveillance videos.”
“Now, that’s the Ray I know,” Ilene said. “Tyler, do you know how to access the video?”
Tyler took a deep breath and realized he only knew how to use Katherine’s cell phone to access the images. “Her cell phone. I saw her put it in her pocket earlier.” He wasn’t going to go to her room and start feeling around in her pockets. “Ilene, if you wouldn’t mind?”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re afraid to touch her? Never mind; I shouldn’t have said that. Of course I will do it. Give me a minute.” She swiftly left the kitchen, her movements as regal and precise as ever.
“She’s got quite the mouth on her, but she means well,” Doc informed the men.
For the first time that evening, the detective smiled. “Obviously I’ve dealt with her before. I know how she works.”
Tyler relaxed somewhat, satisfied with Ilene’s choice. He’d known Ilene since he was in his teens. She’d moved into the house next door to his parents during his sophomore year of high school. His mother had been curious about their new neighbor and made friends with her immediately. Ilene spent more time away from her place than in it. Though he hadn’t known her profession at the time, his parents did. He’d been sworn to secrecy when Ilene told him in his senior year.
“Good to know. I wouldn’t want to be on her bad side,” Doc said. “She’s a good old gal. Sometimes.” He smirked.
“Old gal!” said Ilene, announcing her return to the kitchen. “I won’t forget that, Franklin.” She tossed two cell phones on the counter. “That girl is so wiped out. I thought she was dead for a minute, until I checked her pulse. Tyler, you might want to check on her.”
“I will. She’ll be fine,” Tyler told her. “It’s how the medication works.”
All eyes were on the cell phones in the center of the island.
Detective Davidson spoke first. “Since these phones are evidence, I can’t let you keep them. Is there a paper bag I can use?”
Ilene grabbed the phones with the same crumpled napkin she’d used when she took them out of Katherine’s pocket. “This is not on the books, Ray, or have you forgotten? Maybe Ishouldspeak with your superior, as you seem to have a memory issue.”
