Forgotten Place by LS Sygnet Read Free Book Online Page A

would say. 
Speaking of which, this thing with Ireland was his case sixteen
years ago.  Do you think Lou might want to call him home
early?"
    "He'll be back Saturday," Crevan said. 
"No sense in ruining his holiday with the kid."
    Devlin glanced at his watch.  "I think
I'll see if I can find this Timothy Evans and find out what his
opinion of Journey Ireland is."
    "Yeah," Ned agreed.  "And Linder is on
my immediate agenda.  If he feels as much animosity toward the
victim as her friend suggested, I don't know how cooperative he's
gonna be."
    "Let's talk later this afternoon and compare
notes," Crevan said.  "Helen's had a few hours to rest. 
I think I'll head over there first and see if she can point me to
the least amount of red tape with the State Department."
     
    ~
     
    It took Devlin less than an hour to find
Timothy Evans.
    The Cock and Bull Restaurant, paradoxically,
was a seafood place out on Hennessey Island.  Timothy Evans
was the manager.  It was late afternoon when Devlin sat down
and ordered grilled marinated swordfish.  The second his late
lunch or early dinner was in front of him, he demanded to speak
with the manager.
    "Is there a problem sir?"
    "I'd like to speak with Mr. Evans," he
flashed his badge and gave the waitress a stern stare.  "Right
away, please."
    While she scurried off, Devlin sliced into
the juicy chunk of swordfish on his plate.  The tender morsel,
which was unusual in his experience, had a deep flavor of ginger
and something else he couldn't quite identify. It melted in his
mouth. 
    "Is there a problem sir?"
    Devlin looked up at a wide-eyed young
man.  News of the badge traveled fast.  "Delicious
swordfish," he mumbled.  "Best I've had, actually.  Have
a seat, Mr. Evans."
    He waited, continued to eat for another
moment while Evans sat stiffly in the booth across from him. 
"Tell me where you were this morning at about quarter to eight, Mr.
Evans."
    "I was at home with my wife.  We got up
around seven.  I showered, dressed, helped her get the baby
ready for daycare, and left for the restaurant at about eight
thirty.  Why?"
    "When was the last time you spoke to Journey
Ireland?"
    Evans started tearing bits off the edge of
an unused paper napkin on the table.  "A couple of weekends
ago Elizabeth and I had a barbecue.  Everyone came over."
    "Everyone including Journey?"
    "Is something wrong?  Is Journey all
right?"
    "Can anyone other than your wife verify your
alibi this morning?"
    Evans paled to a shade lighter than the
white napkin.  "What happened to her?  You've got to tell
me if she's all right, officer.  Journey and I have been
friends forever and –"
    "How does Mrs. Evans feel about this close
friendship you maintain with an ex-girlfriend?"
    "Elizabeth adores Journey.  They were
friends before I met my wife.  In fact, Journey introduced
us.  She thought we'd hit it off."
    "I see."
    "Is Journey all right?"
    "If I were to tell you that she wasn't okay,
does anybody come to mind –"
    "Jim Linder."
    "Now why am I not surprised to hear
that?"
    "Officer –"
    "Detective Mackenzie," Dev said.  "I
talked to one of Journey's other friends this morning, Amy
Peterson.  Are you acquainted with her?"
    "Yes, yes.  Journey, Amy, Sam,
Elizabeth – they were all close friends in college.  Amy and
Sam have been Journey's best friends since grade school."
    "Sam?"
    "Samantha Wine.  She's
an editor at Sync! magazine.  What happened to my friend?  You've got
to tell me, detective.  Today of all days... God, I wonder if
Elizabeth knows.  We planned to have her over, but she said
she wanted to spend the afternoon with her mother."
    "There was an incident at the hospital this
morning.  She was injured, but the doctors believe she'll make
a full recovery.  I want you to tell me why James Linder was
the first person you thought of when I asked who might want to harm
Ms. Ireland."
    "Because he's a freak for one thing. 
Journey went through some stuff a few years ago.  She