Page 44 of In Her Dreams
Mary’s head snapped up, surprise flashing across her face.
“No, that’s just it.His agoraphobia disappeared about two months ago.Almost like magic.”She gestured to the dreamcatcher.“Around the same time, he brought that home and hung it there.He started going outside again.Even to the grocery store and the park.”
Jenna and Frank exchanged a glance.
“Did Sam ever tell you where he got the dreamcatcher?”Jenna asked.
Mary shook her head, frustration creasing her brow.
“That’s what was so strange.He never explained it.Every time he tried to talk about it, or about how his fears had suddenly vanished, he’d just...stop.Like something was physically preventing him from speaking.”Her eyes welled with tears.“It upset him terribly.Sam was always honest with me about everything.”
Frank frowned.“Was it that he couldn’t remember or that he couldn’t say what he remembered?”
“I’m not sure.”Mary wiped at her eyes with a tissue.“Both, maybe?He’d start to say something, then get this confused look, then just go silent.Like the words were stuck.”
Jenna’s gaze traveled back to the dreamcatcher.It was hypnotic, somehow both soothing and unsettling.Then, she saw a small leather-bound notebook on the nightstand.
“Did he ever try to write it down instead?”she asked, remembering her dream.
Mary nodded, pointing to the notebook.“He bought that a few weeks ago.Thought maybe he could write what he couldn’t say.”
Jenna picked up the notebook, feeling its worn leather cover.It was identical to the ones Sam used to carry as a cop, and to the one from her dream.She flipped it open.The pages were mostly blank, except for a few with strange, jagged lines—not words, not even recognizable shapes.Just frantic scribbling.
“He’d tear the pages out and throw them away when he got frustrated,” Mary said.
Jenna moved to the small wastebasket beside the nightstand.It contained several crumpled balls of paper.She carefully unfolded one, revealing more of the incomprehensible markings.
“Had Sam sought help for these issues recently?”Jenna asked.
Mary hesitated, twisting her wedding band again.“He went to see a hypnotherapist in Pinecrest yesterday.Valerie Mercer.He was desperate to break through whatever was keeping him silent.He felt better after seeing her, but still couldn’t tell me what he wanted to say.Said maybe after another session, he could finally tell me everything.”
Jenna’s mind raced, connecting dots.“Another session?”
“Yes, he’d already made another appointment.”Mary’s eyes filled with fresh tears.“Now he’s gone, and he could never say what he wanted to.”
“Mary,” Jenna said gently, “did Sam ever see Dr.Anthony Walsh for his agoraphobia?”
Again, surprise registered on Mary’s face.
“Yes, for several years.But he stopped seeing Dr.Walsh around the same time he brought home the dreamcatcher.Wouldn’t go back to him after that.”She frowned.“Wouldn’t even talk about him.How did you know?”
Jenna exchanged another look with Frank, whose expression had darkened.
“We’re investigating a series of...unusual deaths,” Jenna said carefully.“There may be connections to Dr.Walsh, but that’s not certain yet.”
Mary’s gaze drifted back to the object on the wall.“You mean—foul play?How is that even possible?I’m sure no one got into the house last night.You think that thing had something to do with Sam’s death?”
“I don’t know,” Jenna admitted.“But I intend to find out.”She took out her cell phone and snapped pictures of the dreamcatcher, both closeup and distance shots.
She stood, tucking the notebook into her jacket pocket.“Frank, would you stay with Mary for a while?I need to follow up on something.”
Frank nodded, understanding in his eyes.“Of course.”
Jenna squeezed Mary’s shoulder gently.“I promise you, we’re going to get to the bottom of this.”
Outside, the morning had brightened, sunlight glinting off the windows of neighboring houses.The ordinary peacefulness of the street felt jarring after the heavy grief inside Sam’s home.
Sliding into her car, Jenna pulled out her phone and dialed Jake again.
