In Her Tracks (Tracy Crosswhite #8)(55)

Kne?evi? sat and removed her glasses. She stared up at the screen with a scrunched face, typed, and used the mouse. “He worked Wednesday, October 30, from nine in the morning until four thirty.”

That was as Franklin and Carrol Sprague had both said.

She again squinted and moved the mouse on the desk pad. “And he worked Thursday and Friday the same hours.”

Tracy looked to Kins, who shrugged. “He didn’t call in sick then?” Tracy asked.

“Last week? He was scheduled to work yesterday and today, but he called in sick both those days.”

“Wait. He’s not working today?”

“No. He called in and said he has the flu and did not want to get others sick.”

Carrol had lied. He told Tracy he was calling while on a break at work.

“Is an employee who calls in sick required to get a doctor’s note of any kind?” Tracy asked.

“No. Employees don’t get sick days. They get sick hours each month. Full-time is eight sick hours per month. If you are sick more than that, it is a point against you.”

“Did Mr. Sprague get a point against him?”

“No. He had accumulated enough sick hours.”

“Does he get sick often?” Tracy asked.

Kne?evi? again moved the mouse and squinted up at her monitor. After a few minutes she said, “No. First time this year. He is a good worker. He has good reviews.”

Kins and Tracy thanked Kne?evi? and departed.

In the parking lot Tracy said, “Carrol lied.”

“About today,” Kins said, “but Carrol was at work Wednesday, so he wasn’t in the park.”

“No, but his brother Evan could have been, and Franklin and Carrol could be covering for him.”

“You think Franklin and Carrol were getting rid of a body yesterday and today?” Kins asked.

“I think we should ask the retirement home if Franklin worked yesterday and today.” Tracy called the human resources director at the retirement home and learned Franklin also had Sunday off, but he was at work today and scheduled from nine to five thirty.

Tracy thanked the woman, disconnected, and provided Kins the news. She looked at her watch. “This is just about the time Evan goes for his walk. Let’s go see if we can catch him out, away from his brothers. Maybe he remembers more than Franklin says he does.”





CHAPTER 25

Tracy and Kins knew the North Park neighbors were on edge, and therefore Kins parked where they could watch the street but not be conspicuous.

At 3:27 p.m., Tracy said, “If we don’t see him in the next fifteen minutes let’s go to the house.”

Ten minutes later, Kins sat up. “There he is.”

Evan Sprague walked the sidewalk toward the park entrance. He’d dressed warmly in a black knit hat and rust-colored Carhartt jacket, his hands shoved in the pockets. His breath preceded him in white bursts. The cold looked to have otherwise kept everyone else indoors. Evan approached the entrance to the park and stopped, as if he might walk down the trailhead.

“What’s he doing?” Kins said.

“I don’t know.”

“The neighbor said he walked around the block, which explained why he didn’t pass by her porch camera again.”

“Maybe she’s wrong,” Tracy said.

“Or maybe he’s contemplating—”

After a moment, Evan continued past the trailhead.

“Odd,” Kins said. “Let’s go.”

He and Tracy pushed out of the car, crossed the street, and came up behind Evan before Evan got to the end of the block. He turned as they neared.

“Evan,” Kins said. “How’re you doing?”

Evan stopped and gave them a blank stare, as if he didn’t recognize or remember them, which was highly possible if Franklin had been truthful about Evan’s memory.

“We’re the police detectives who came to your house the other day and spoke to you,” Kins said.

Tracy could have kicked him. It was the perfect opportunity to determine whether Evan’s memory was as bad as Franklin claimed. “How are you feeling?” Tracy asked.

Evan didn’t respond.

“Is your brother Carrol sick?”

“Carrol?”

“Is he home sick?” Tracy asked.

“Carrol works.”

“Is he working today?”

“I don’t remember.”

“We were just on our way into the park,” Kins said. “You want to walk in the park?”

Evan didn’t respond. Again, he looked confused.

“Do you walk at this time every day?” Tracy tried.

“I got to go home.” Evan turned and quickened his pace.

“We’ll walk with you,” Tracy said. She and Kins hurried to keep up.

Evan did not look comfortable, but he didn’t protest and he didn’t run. Kins walked beside him, Tracy behind them.

“We know you walked at this time on Wednesday, Evan.”

“I don’t remember,” Evan said.

“Your neighbors have a video camera. It filmed you walking past their house.”

“Bibby?”

“No. The Maxwells. You walked past their house, just like you did today. You walked down this street, past the entrance to the park. That was the day that a young woman, Stephanie Cole, ran in the park.” Kins had pulled up a picture of Cole on his phone and showed it to Evan. “This is her, Evan.”