Page 63 of Waiting for Devon
“How about we establish a timeline of Dr. Brooks’ activities yesterday,” the detective suggested. “Jasper, did you see your son’s fiancée, yes or no?”
“Son’s fiancée,” Jack sneered. “Here’s the truth, Detective. Shane Barrington devised this elaborate scheme topretendto be engaged in order to wrest control of Barrington Industries from his father. He dragged Devon into it, and Jasper, who knew the truth from the beginning according to his daughter, cost my ex-wife her job at San Francisco General Hospital so she didn’t have a choice but to play along. Andthatasshole,” he pointed at Reed, “caused Devon to leave after she confessed the scam to Jasper at his office.”
Detective Kennedy held up his hand. “Whoa. Slow down. Will someone please start at the beginning?”
“Sit down, Donald,” Jasper invited him. “I’ll tell you the truth.”
In the middle of Jasper’s explanation, Blair, Shane, and Miss Turner, Alana, Jack now learned, joined them. It gratified Jack to see bruises already forming on Shane’s face. He deserved much worse. Now, if he could get his hands on Reed Barrington and do some damage to him, Devon would be avenged.
At the conclusion of Jasper’s story, Detective Kennedy studied his notes a moment before he looked at Reed. “What time did you last see Dr. Brooks yesterday?”
“Around seven-thirty in the morning. As I left her in my bed.” Reed smirked at Jack.
Son of a bitch.
The detective addressed Blair. “Did Dr. Brooks show up at the clinic at all yesterday?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Who else was in the house yesterday morning?”
“Mrs. Peters, our housekeeper, and Mr. O’Rourke, our butler,” Jasper answered.
“I need to speak to them.”
“I’ll go find them,” Blair volunteered.
Jack knew the detective was being methodical, but he chafed at the slow process. Every moment they spent piecing together a timeline put Devon in more danger. He whipped out his cell phone and tried calling her again. No luck. He swore beneath his breath.
When Mrs. Peters and Mr. O’Rourke entered the living room, they appeared both perplexed and concerned.
“Sir, what’s the matter?” Mr. O’Rourke asked.
“No one has seen or heard from Miss Brooks since yesterday morning,” Jasper informed him. “What time did you see her?”
The housekeeper and butler glanced at each other.
“Between ten-thirty and eleven, maybe?” Mrs. Peters wrung her hands.
“That sounds about right,” Jasper commented. “I saw her around eleven-thirty in my office at BI.”
“She said her flight from Dallas was landing at four o’clock,” Jack interjected.
Detective Kennedy nodded. “So, she disappeared somewhere between Barrington Industries and the airport. Did she catch a cab or Uber to BI?” he asked the household staff.
“No. She drove one of the Barringtons’ cars,” Mr. O’Rourke replied.
“Make and model and license plate number?”
Jasper supplied the details. Before Detective Kennedy called it in to his precinct, he asked, “What was Dr. Brooks wearing when you last saw her, Mrs. Peters?”
“A denim skirt and a pink sleeveless blouse,” the worried housekeeper replied.
“Does anyone have a recent picture of her?”
The Barrington brothers glared at each other. “Check online,” Shane suggested. “There’s one of her and Reed attendingThe Phantom of the Opera.”
Detective Kennedy found the photo on his cell phone and called his lieutenant. “We have a situation, Lieutenant. Dr. Devon Brooks, Shane Barrington’s, uh, ex-fiancée has been missing for over twenty-four hours. No, sir, Barrington is not a suspect at this time. She was last seen at Barrington Industries around noon yesterday. I need a BOLO on her car.” He rattled off the information. “If you could send me security camera footage of the garage at BI, the surrounding area, and the airport, I would appreciate it. Yes, sir, I will keep you informed.” He gazed at the group watching him. “Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?”
