Page 42 of In Her Dreams
“Morning,” he said, his weathered face grave as he slid into the passenger seat, handing her a travel mug of coffee that smelled good and holding out a biscuit with a bit of scrambled egg sandwiched between its layers.
“I knew you wouldn’t take the time to get something to eat,” he said.
“Thanks,” she said, accepting them gratefully.
“So you knew about Sam even before I did,” he commented.
“I had this dream last night.I saw Sam trying to write something in a notebook, but he couldn’t.I saw a dreamcatcher, too—actually, it was like the whole dream took place inside another dreamcatcher.It wasn’t exactly like the ones we found at Winters’ and Palmer’s.I didn’t see all of it, but it seemed just as strange as the first two.And it kind of hummed with energy.”
With a final swallow of egg-biscuit, Jenna put the coffee in the in a holder and reversed the cruiser out of the driveway.
The miles ticked by in silence, both lost in their thoughts.The early morning sun painted the Ozark hills in shades of amber and gold.The beauty felt obscene against the horror of what was happening there—people dying from their own fears.
“Have you let Jake know about this?”Frank asked.
“No, I’d better do that.”
Jenna tapped the car phone’s console as she dialed Jake.His voice came through the speakers on the second ring.
“Hawkins,” he answered, revealing that he’d been too sound asleep to even check who was calling.
“Jake, it’s me.”Jenna put the phone on speaker so Frank could hear.“We have another victim.”
“What?Who?”Jake’s voice crackled through the car speakers.
“Sam Rodriguez.Former officer, retired about six years ago.You met him once, I think, after he left the force.”
“Yeah, I remember.Older guy, had trouble with open spaces?Agoraphobia, right?”
“That’s him.”Jenna took a sharp turn, earning a concerned glance from Frank.She eased off the accelerator.“Frank and I are heading to his place now.”
There was a momentary pause.“You dreamed…?
“Yes, and this morning Frank got a call from his wife, Mary.”Then she corrected herself, “His widow.She told him he was dead.”
“Is there a dreamcatcher?”
“There seemed to be in my dream.I don’t know yet whether he had one.I’ll update you as soon as I learn more, but everything about his death sounds the same as the others.”
“I’m almost at the station.Want me to meet you there?”
“No, stay put for now.I’ll call you back.”
She ended the call and glanced at Frank, who was staring out the window, his face a mask of worry.
“Sam was one of my oldest friends,” he said quietly.“We joined the force together, back when Duke Pulliam was sheriff.”
Jenna nodded, remembering.“You never told me how his agoraphobia started.”
Frank shook his head.“It was gradual.Got worse after a bad call—hostage situation at the bank.He was fine indoors, but open spaces started to terrify him.By the time he retired, he could barely leave his house.”
“I never knew of Sam having any other kind of health condition,” she said.
“No, he was perfectly healthy for a man his age,” Frank said.
They pulled onto Elm Street, a quiet lane lined with modest ranch homes.Sam and Mary lived in a pale blue one at the end, with neat flowerbeds and white trim.There were two sedans parked in the driveway.
“That’s Ethel Walker’s car,” Frank said, nodding at one of the sedans.“She and Mary are in the same church group.”
