Page 6 of Beautiful Dreamer

“Everything all right?” Ricky asked, after a long stretch ofsilence.

She shook her head. “No, it’s not. I think my sister needs meright now. I’m headed home to South Carolina.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I hope she’s okay.” And then, “Whatpart?”

“Tiny little place called Dreamer’s Bay. Right there on thewater.”

He squinted at her and tilted his head. “Can’t say I’ve heard ofit.”

She nodded. “Most people haven’t.”

Chapter Two

Devyn blinked as she stood in line for her rental car at theCharleston airport. Holding a subpar cup of airport coffee that tasted a lotmore like burnt popcorn, she stared out the large windows that showed her itwas not yet daylight in South Carolina. She didn’t understand why time moved soslowly, why the attendant did. She tapped her foot. Adjusted her bag. Looked ather watch. All of it a helpless little dance to keep her from coming out of herskin. In a little over two hours, she’d arrive in Dreamer’s Bay for the firsttime in just over four years. In addition to the panic she waded throughregarding her sister, the idea of being back home had her nervous anduncomfortable. Nothing but Jill could have brought her back. It wasn’t an awfultown, quaint enough and easy to navigate, but she didn’t have too many fondmemories, having hidden who she was the entire time she’d lived in the Bay.Worst of all now, the person she associated most with the town, her mother,wouldn’t be there. It made her resent the place even more.

“We’re out of luxury cars,” the gum-chewing rental agent told heras she tick-tacked away on her keyboard, glancing at her phone between hittingthe Enter key.

“Midsize is fine.”

“No go.” More tick-tacking and phone checking.

Devyn sighed. “Compact, economy, whatever you have. Something withwheels would be fine. I’m in a hurry.”

“I have a Chevy Spark.”

“Sold.”

It turned out that the Chevy Spark was the smallest car Devyn hadever laid eyes on, and getting her Louis Vuitton suitcase into its microscopicback seat—forget about trunk space—was an ordeal requiring two hands and awell-placed foot. She gave the thing a last kick for good measure, blew thewayward strand of blond hair from her eyes, and swore. Why were little thingsgetting in the way right now? She glanced at her phone for the million andninth time for any message from Jill, willing one to be there. Nothing. She’dleft countless voicemails for her and sent just as many texts. She blinked backher tears and slid into the driver’s seat for the short journey to herhometown. The drive left her alone with her thoughts, and that meant a millionterrifying images. Jill bruised, battered, or tied up in the back of some guy’scar, hoping someone would find her. She punched the steering wheel infrustration and blared the radio to drown out her cruel brain.

With traffic nonexistent on the highway that early, she and herSpark made it just in time to see the sunrise over the water as she drove alongthe coast into Dreamer’s Bay. If her heart hadn’t ached, she might have beenable to enjoy it. She pulled in a steadying breath as the familiar sightssprang into view, inspiring a nostalgic pang laced with dread. She took in thetwo-pump gas station on the outskirts of town where Mr. Henry could be seendoing his morning sweep with the newspaper rolled up in the back pocket of hisbaggy pants. She passed the rust-colored library, still wondering why theychose that shade but happy to see someone had purchased the building andmarquee. According to the scrolling message, there would be a children’s bookfair that week. Farther down Center Street, the main drag, she came to theheart of the town. The Circle, as they called the town’s roundabout, wasoutlined by a variety of businesses including an Arby’s and a McDonald’s thatmust have moved in since she’d last been home. Even Dreamer’s Bay wassusceptible to big business invasion. The center of the Circle was made up of benchessurrounded by large potted plants, offering a nice spot for folks to take theirlunch hour and greet their friends and neighbors. She stared at the very benchwhere she remembered sitting with her mother, who had purchased both her andJill a warm chocolate croissant. They’d eaten them there together, the three ofthem. Devyn felt the sharp rising of sadness almost immediately, like achemical reaction. She gave her head a shake and pushed past it, sliding astrand of hair behind her ear—her own special game-time gesture. It alwaysbolstered her confidence. This time it didn’t work. The town made her thinkacutely of her mother, who she missed desperately, but also of her youth, when she’dplayed the part of someone she barely recognized now. Both pulled at her chest,as if opening a long-put-to-bed wound. None of it was relevant. It didn’tmatter whether she wanted to be in this town or not, she was here for Jill andshould stay tuned into her. She’d be back home in Philly and living her life inno time, once she knew her sister was okay. And she would be. Devyn hated thatshe was even considering the alternative. Yet how could she not? Bile rose inthe back of her throat as she banished another series of graphic images fromher mind.

She arrived at the nondescript one-story brown police station andopened her mouth to speak to the young woman seated behind the first desk shecame to. The woman beat her to it.

“Devyn Winters?” The small station looked empty behind her. Wherewere all of the people who were supposed to fight crime? The grim realizationthat she was in a tiny town with very few resources settled uncomfortably.

“Yes. I’m Devyn Winters, and I’m here about my sister.”

“Right this way.”

She followed the short brunette, dressed in business attire ratherthan a uniform, down the hallway to a large conference room with a long tablein the center. The smell of stale coffee hit her hard. Someone around hereliked it strong. She scanned the faces of the small group gathered. She knewmost of them.

“Ms. Winters, I’m—”

“Officer Bertaw.” She remembered him from those high school safetypresentations in the gym. He’d arrived each year with stickers, bookmarks, andstern reminders about the dangers of drinking and driving. She’d mostlydaydreamed.

He smiled conservatively. “DetectiveBertaw these day.”

“Congratulations,” she said, as sincerely as possible, given theoccasion. Honestly, who the hell cared about his promotion right now? “Do weknow anything more?” She glanced around the room. The redheaded woman with thebun and brightly colored skirt was likely the vice principal she’d spoken with.She nodded a hello. Next to her sat that Elizabeth Somebody from high school.No clue why she’d be there. Small towns were weird. Hadn’t Elizabeth been incharge of the high school food drive? And why was her mind supplyingunnecessary details in this moment? She blinked and focused.

Detective Bertaw gestured to a dry erase board. “We know Jill wentto karaoke in Halper’s Glen last night. Mike’s Sports Bar does a thing everyTuesday evening. What we don’t know is if she made it back. We do know she’snot home at this point and did not report for work yesterday or today.”

Devyn closed her eyes momentarily at the rudimentary information.“And that she’s not answering texts or calls, which is nothing like my sister.That means something has happened to her. Trust me. Someone has her or she’shurt somewhere.” She gestured to the space around her. “So, can we get outthere and find her? Now?” Her throat tightened with anguish.

“We have patrol on it.”

“Pardon me.” She held up a pleading hand to Bertaw. “I say thiswith nothing but respect, but in the city limits, doesn’t that amount to approximatelytwo people and one patrol car?” She glanced around for some kind of lifeline.Someone she could shake and make them understand. They all just blinked back ather, making her feel both powerless and determined to change that. She knockedon the table to wake everyone the hell up. “Let’s make some phone calls. Callin some police friends. I’ll pay for whatever you need. Money is not aproblem.”

“It doesn’t exactly work that way,” Bertaw explained. He waslosing his hair. On top and in the front. Little brown wisps clung as if usingone another for comfort. Another unnecessary detail her stupid brain thoughtmattered. Now she wanted to shakeherself.Her neck ached, her mouth was dry, and she felt shaky all over. She hadn’t hadanything to eat or drink since the call came in about Jill, not that she couldhave. Her stomach roiled.

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