Page 25 of In Her Dreams
The professor’s handshake was firm and brief.“Please, sit down.”She gestured to a chair partially obscured by a stack of journals.“You’ll have to move those.Peer reviews—not as insightful as one might hope.”
Jenna carefully relocated the journals to the floor and sat down, taking the opportunity to observe Dr.Summers more closely.Despite her disheveled appearance, there was nothing unfocused about her gaze.It was sharp, assessing, the look of someone accustomed to piecing together complex puzzles.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me on such short notice,” Jenna said.
“I’m pleased to be of help if I can, Sheriff Graves.”Dr.Summers leaned back slightly in her chair.“Though you were apparently somewhat vague about the details.”
Jenna nodded, choosing her next words carefully.“I’m investigating two deaths that occurred recently in Greenville.Both unusual circumstances.”
“Deaths?”Dr.Summers’ eyebrows rose slightly.“And you’ve come all the way to Pinecrest to talk with me about them?That’s quite a drive from Trentville, isn’t it?About an hour?”
“It is,” Jenna acknowledged.“But sometimes investigations require us to go where the expertise is located.”
“And what expertise of mine could possibly be relevant to deaths in Trentville?”
“I believe your background in ethnology, particularly your work on cultural artifacts and their significance, might help shed light on some objects we found at both scenes.”Jenna paused, watching the professor’s face.“Cassie Rivera suggested I speak with you.”
A flicker of amusement crossed Dr.Summers’ face.“Ah, Cassie.How is she?Still reading tarot cards and communing with what she believes are spirits?”
“She’s well,” Jenna said, noting the condescension in the professor’s voice.“She speaks highly of your academic credentials, despite your...differing perspectives.”
“Yes, Cassie and I have had some spirited discussions about the nature of belief versus empirical evidence.”Dr.Summers smiled thinly.“But I doubt you came here to discuss the philosophy of paranormal investigation.”
Jenna reached into her bag and pulled out her phone.“You’re right, I didn’t.”She brought up the two photographs of dreamcatchers.“These objects were found hanging on walls at the crime scenes.One near the body of Richard Winters, a local banker who died of apparent cardiac arrest.The other is with Anita Palmer, a first-grade teacher.So far, we don’t know where either of them acquired the items, or even whether their presence was significant.But I felt the need to learn more about them.”
Dr.Summers leaned forward, her academic interest visibly piqued.She studied the photos, her brow furrowing as she noted the intricate patterns.
“Interesting,” she murmured, leaning forward for closer examination.“I’ve never seen dreamcatchers quite like these before.The design is...quite unusual.”
Jenna felt a ripple of excitement at the professor’s response.“Unusual how?”
Dr.Summers glanced up, as if suddenly remembering Jenna’s presence.“Well, the traditional dreamcatcher is Ojibwe in origin, with a fairly standard structure.These have elements that don’t align with any Native American tradition I’m familiar with.”
She tapped the photo with one finger.“The materials, the binding technique, the symbolic additions—they appear to be a hybrid, perhaps someone’s adaptation.Of course, individuals often labeled as new-agers are quick to incorporate their own interpretations into traditional practices.My guess is that they aren’t of genuinely indigenous origin.”
Jenna nodded, pressing her advantage.“Both victims died under unusual circumstances.Richard Winters had extreme claustrophobia that had worsened after his wife’s death.He was found in his bedroom, apparently having died of cardiac arrest, but with no obvious trigger for his heart condition.”
“And the teacher?”Dr.Summers asked.
“Anita Palmer had ornithophobia—an intense fear of birds.”
Dr.Summers leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing slightly.“And you believe these unusual dreamcatchers are somehow connected to their deaths?”
“I’m trying to determine if there’s a connection,” Jenna replied carefully.“The toxicology reports showed extremely high levels of cortisol and other stress hormones in Richard Winters bloodstream at time of death.Our coroner expects to find similar anomalies in Anita Palmer’s system.”
“Consistent with death by extreme fright,” Dr.Summers said, her tone academic.“And the proximity of these unusual artifacts to the bodies is...a striking coincidence.”She handed the photos back to Jenna, her movements deliberate.
Jenna felt frustration bubbling beneath her professional demeanor, as if she considered this visit a waste of her time.
“Dr.Summers, I understand you’re a scientist, not a psychic.But given your expertise in cultural artifacts and their significance, I was hoping you might have some insight into what these dreamcatchers could represent, or why they might be present at both scenes.”
The professor sighed with a smile, folding her hands on her desk.“Sheriff Graves, I appreciate your thoroughness in pursuing every angle.But this might be more in Cassie Rivera’s realm than mine.I deal with documented cultural practices, not...”She gestured vaguely at the photos.“...paranormal speculation.”
“I’m not asking for paranormal speculation,” Jenna countered, keeping her voice even.“I’m asking for your professional opinion on these artifacts.”
Dr.Summers was quiet for a moment, studying Jenna with an intensity that felt almost intrusive.“Very well.Speaking purely academically, these could be examples of what’s often called ‘sympathetic magic’—objects created to influence specific outcomes through symbolic representation.”
She pointed to elements in the Dreamcatcher designs.“These particular symbols and materials might be chosen to represent specific fears or anxieties.In many traditions, such objects are believed to either ward off negative influences or, conversely, to channel and direct them.”
