Page 22 of In Her Fears
“And yet the results speak for themselves,” Pierce pressed.“Cases solved against impossible odds.Victims found in locations no one else thought to look.Evidence discovered that others missed.”
“Mr.Pierce—”
“I’m not here to expose you or ridicule you,” he said quickly.“I’m genuinely curious.If there’s something to this—some ability you have that helps you save lives—isn’t that a story worth telling?”
“I think you’ve misunderstood the nature of investigative work,” she said, her voice cooler now.“It’s methodical.It’s tedious.It’s following leads and connecting dots that others might miss.There’s nothing supernatural about it.”
Pierce studied her face for a long moment, then sighed.“I was hoping for more candor, Sheriff.”
Jenna realized it was time to bring this interview to a close.But the door to her office opened before she could respond.Jake stood in the threshold, his expression serious.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, glancing between them.“Sheriff, we just got a call that needs immediate attention.”
Jenna had never been so grateful for an interruption.“I’m afraid we’ll have to cut this short, Mr.Pierce.”
The reporter looked frustrated but gathered his recorder.“Perhaps we could schedule a follow-up interview?There’s still a lot I’d like to discuss.”
“I’ve told you everything I have to say on the matter,” Jenna replied, standing.“The FBI has closed the Harvesters case, and they have all the relevant information for your article.”
“And yet the most interesting part of the story remains untold,” Pierce said, rising to his feet.“How the sheriff of a small county managed to uncover evidence that helped the FBI crack a case that had stumped them for years.”
“Sometimes stories don’t have neat explanations,” Jenna said, moving toward the door.“Thank you for your time.”
Pierce paused at the threshold, his gaze unexpectedly sympathetic.“For what it’s worth, Sheriff, I think you’re doing remarkable work—however you’re managing it.I just hope someday you’ll trust the public enough to tell them the truth.”
With that, he walked out, leaving Jenna and Jake alone in the suddenly quiet office.
Jake closed the door behind the reporter.“You okay?Looked like he was giving you the third degree.”
“He wanted to know how we found Ginger and Jill in the mine,” Jenna said, rubbing her temples.“Asked if I was psychic.”
Jake’s eyebrows shot up.“That’s...direct.”
“Too direct.”Jenna sighed, then focused on Jake’s earlier interruption.“What’s the call?”
Jake’s expression turned somber.“It’s Chloe Bennett.She says her roommate Alexis Downey didn’t come home last night.She’s pretty upset.”
Alexis—the cheerful server from the Sunflower Café who always remembered that Jake liked extra cream in his coffee and that Jenna took hers black.
“How long has she been missing?”
“Since last night, apparently.Chloe thought she was staying with her boyfriend, but when she called him this morning, he said Alexis never showed up.”
Jenna grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair.“Let’s go.”
As they headed for the door, Jenna couldn’t help wondering if her dream and Alexis’s disappearance were connected—a feeling that turned her blood cold.
The cruiser’s engine rumbled to life as Jenna pulled out of the station parking lot.Morning sunlight glinted off storefronts along Main Street, the ordinary rhythm of Trentville continuing around them—shopkeepers sweeping sidewalks, early customers lining up at the bakery, an elderly man walking his terrier.
“It’s probably nothing serious,” Jake said, breaking the silence.“Alexis could have crashed at a friend’s place, turned her phone off.”
Jenna made the turn onto Maple Road.“I hope you’re right.”
“But you don’t think I am,” Jake observed, studying her profile.
“No,” she admitted.“I have a bad feeling about this one.”
Jake shifted in his seat.“Want to tell me why?Is this just a gut feeling, or is there something else?”
