Page 5 of In Her Fears
The screen displayed a number she recognized immediately: Colonel Chadwick Spelling, Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.Their working relationship had developed over several cases, built on mutual respect and a tacit agreement not to dig too deeply into Jenna’s investigative methods.
“Colonel,” she answered, remaining beside her car in the shade of the building.“This is an unexpected pleasure.”
“Sheriff Graves,” Spelling’s voice was as gruff as ever.“I’m in Pinecrest.We’ve got a situation here I’d like your input on.”
Jenna frowned.“Pinecrest is outside my jurisdiction, Colonel.About an hour away.”
“I’m well aware of where Pinecrest is located,” Spelling replied, a hint of impatience coloring his tone.“I’m not asking for official intervention.I’m asking for your perspective.”He paused.“It’s a homicide case with...unusual characteristics.”
Jenna’s interest piqued despite herself.“Unusual how?”
“Male victim, mid-forties, found in Pinecrest Cemetery last night by a teenager.Initial assessment suggests he was killed elsewhere and staged at the scene.”Spelling lowered his voice slightly.“He was tied to a tree with a wooden stake through his chest.”
“A stake?”Jenna repeated, unable to keep the surprise from her voice.
“Yes.And there’s more, but I’d rather not discuss it over the phone.Look, Sheriff, I know you have your own jurisdiction to worry about, but your insight on unusual cases has proven valuable in the past.I’d consider it a personal favor.”
Jenna knew what he was really asking.Spelling had never directly acknowledged her “gift,” but he’d witnessed enough to know that she sometimes had access to information that couldn’t be explained through conventional means.
She thought of Jill being transferred away, another potential link to Piper slipping through her fingers.Perhaps a change of scenery would be good.And she’d never been one to turn down a puzzle.
“I can be there in about an hour,” she said.“I’ll bring Deputy Hawkins with me.”
“Good.”The relief in Spelling’s voice was evident.“I’ll text you the address.We’re maintaining the scene until you arrive.”
As she headed into the station to find Jake and brief him on their unexpected field trip, Jenna wondered if the new victim would visit her lucid dreams.Of course not all the dead ever spoke to her, and sometimes she had to depend on more ordinary investigating skills like any other sheriff.Even so, she had an eerie sensation that something beyond a bizarre murder scene was waiting for her in Pinecrest.
CHAPTER TWO
The air conditioning labored against the August sun as Jenna guided the Genesius County Sheriff’s Department cruiser along the winding road toward Pinecrest.Beside her, Jake Hawkins sat with his forearm propped against the window frame, his expression contemplative as he watched the familiar landscape of Trentville gradually transform into countryside.The silence between them was comfortable.In the two years since Jake had transferred from Kansas City, they’d fallen into an easy rhythm of partnership.Now that seemed to be on the verge of becoming something much deeper.
“You’ve been quiet,” Jake finally said, turning his attention from the window to study her profile.“Still thinking about Jill?”
“That obvious, huh?”
“You get this little crease right here—” Jake touched the space between his own eyebrows, “—when you’re frustrated about a lead going cold.”
Despite her mood, Jenna felt the corner of her mouth twitch upward.“I didn’t realize I was so transparent.”
“Only to someone who spends a lot of time looking at you,” Jake replied, his tone light but his eyes serious.“So what happened at the hospital this morning?Any breakthrough?”
Jenna sighed, easing the squad car around a bend in the road.“More like another dead end.Jill was awake, sort of, but claimed she doesn’t know anyone named Piper.”
“But you still think she does.”
“When we found them back in the mine, she looked at me and saw my sister.”Jenna said, the frustration evident in her voice.“That wasn’t confusion or coincidence, Jake.She actually called me Piper once, after she came out of her coma.”
They passed a sign welcoming them to Cable County, where Pinecrest was located.
“She’s obviously been through hell,” Jake said carefully.“The doctors said her memory’s compromised, right?Maybe she knew Piper years ago, before whatever trauma damaged her mind.”
“That’s just it—I need to know what happened before.Where she met Piper, when, under what circumstances.”Jenna’s voice took on an edge.“But now I might never get the chance to find out.”
Jake frowned.“What do you mean?”
“They’re transferring her today.To New Horizons Rehabilitation Center in Valley Bend.”
“Valley Bend?”Jake’s eyebrows rose.“That’s what, two counties over?Why the transfer?”
