She's Not There Read Online Free PDF Page B

said nothing, opting to let the other woman continue her story.
    “Since then I’ve done real well doing the bank gig and free-lancing in security. Got to know the Doc well enough to know he was no killer or abuser. Loved his wife, but the woman was a drinker. One night he came home from the hospital late. She was drunk and started accusing him of cheating. She lost it, started throwin’ things around, smashing good china and glass, that kinda thing. When he tried to stop her she started screaming and dialed 911. So he ended up with an incident on record.”
    Lisa absorbed it all for a minute. “I’m still wondering why you’re coming to me with this?”
    TJ chuckled. “Forgot to mention I also hang with Patty Barkley from time to time. She told me all about you.”
    “Seems like quite a small world around that police department.”
    “Also need to let you know the good detective pawned you off on the department’s biggest tight ass. I gave him hell about it.”
    “You mean James Wilson. He was actually rather informative, but I agree he isn’t what you’d describe as warm and fuzzy.” Lisa smiled, remembering the man’s brusque demeanor. She neglected to add that Conlin hadn’t treated her much better.
    “Yeah, nothin’ warm about that guy. If he wasn’t engaged to the chief’s daughter, he’d a’ been out on his ass a long time ago.”
    Lisa’s eyebrows shot up. “That explains a lot. I wondered how he managed to be such a maverick and get away with it.”
    TJ stood, pacing. “Anyway, like I said, I been tellin’ Richard—he hates bein’ called Dick—that something’s going on. Didn’t need any fancy statistics to tell me that. The Doc didn’t kill his wife. An’ that woman never woulda left him; she was way too crazy about all the goodies that came with bein’ married to a rich doctor. She loved him in her own weird way—an’ there wasn’t any boyfriend. I never told him this, but after all my diggin‘, I’d have to say she wasn’t the sharpest knife in the block. That woman never woulda figured out how to disappear without leaving tracks.”
    Drawn into TJ’s tale, Lisa still had no idea why she was its recipient.
    TJ sat back down, her small butt balanced on the edge of the chair. “I know there’s another wife missing an’ there’s rumors she was seeing you. That true?”
    “You know I can’t reveal that.”
    “An’ you know with a little pokin’ around I can find that out for myself.”
    “TJ, although we do have the same concern, I don’t understand what you want from me. James Wilson did make some good points. No bodies have turned up, and the police believe there is an organization in Milwaukee helping abused women to relocate.” Lisa didn’t add that she too was desperate to find answers to why women were disappearing.
    “Miz Rayburn, the police ain’t gonna do nothin’ about this unless they get some solid info. I figure together, we do some snoopin’ around, get them something to go on, then they’ll have to open an investigation.”
    Lisa nearly slid off the leather chair. “Together? I’m a clinical psychologist, not a detective. And even if I was willing to help, I really don‘t see how I could. And you can call me Lisa.” Her feet getting cold in more ways than one, Lisa got up to retrieve her discarded shoes. She wanted to find out what was happening to the women, but this was way out of her league.
    TJ followed, still talking. “What if I told you that I know something the police don’t? This secret group Wilson’s so proud of finding out about is only one person, and I’m pretty sure there’s only been about two women in the past two years who went that route.”
    Lisa stopped where she stood. “Have you told Detective Conlin about this?”
    “Can’t. Technically, it’s illegal cause most of the women take their kids with them against child custody mandates. He’d feel obligated to report it. Wouldn’t put Richard on the spot like