Page 4 of In Her Fears
In the corridor, Nurse Daniels crossed her arms, her disapproval evident.“Sheriff, I’ve told you before.Pushing her like this isn’t helping her recovery.Her psych evaluation shows significant cognitive impairment.The doctors believe she’s experiencing confabulation—her brain is literally making up stories to fill in the gaps in her memory.”
“I understand that,” Jenna said, struggling to keep frustration from her voice.“But she recognized me when she first woke up.She called me by my sister’s name.That has to mean something.”
Nurse Daniels softened slightly.“I know this is personal for you, but our priority has to be our patient’s wellbeing.And speaking of that...”She hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with what she had to say next.“I need to inform you that Jill is being transferred later today.”
“Transferred?”Jenna felt a cold weight settle in her stomach.“Where?Why wasn’t I informed?”
“To New Horizons Rehabilitation Center in Valley Bend,” Nurse Daniels replied.“The decision was made yesterday evening.They specialize in cases like hers—trauma-induced memory loss, cognitive rehabilitation.It’s a good facility, Sheriff.”
“Valley Bend is two counties over,” Jenna said, the implications sinking in.Access would be more difficult.Questions would be raised if the sheriff of Genesius County kept showing up to interview a patient there.
“I’m sorry,” Nurse Daniels said, and she seemed to mean it.“But this is the best thing for her recovery.”
Jenna nodded, not trusting herself to speak immediately.She glanced through the window at Jill, who was now staring blankly at the ceiling.
“Can I have a few more minutes with her?”she asked finally.
Nurse Daniels checked her watch.“Five minutes.Then she needs her medication and rest before transport.”
Back in the room, Jenna found Jill exactly as she’d left her, gaze fixed on the ceiling tiles, counting under her breath.
“Jill,” she said gently.“I have to go now, but I wanted to let you know that you’re being moved to a new facility today.A place that can help you recover your memories.”
Jill turned to her, and for a moment, her eyes seemed clear.“There are some memories that shouldn’t be recovered, Sheriff.Some doors that shouldn’t be opened.”She reached out, her cool fingers brushing against Jenna’s hand.“But you’ll open them anyway, won’t you?Because of her.”
Jenna felt a chill race down her spine.“Because of who?”
But the moment of clarity was gone.Jill’s hand dropped away, and she resumed her counting, as if Jenna wasn’t even there.
“Goodbye, Jill,” Jenna said softly.“I hope you find your way back to yourself.”
The woman gave no indication she’d heard.
Outside, the August heat hit Jenna like a physical wall as she exited the hospital’s air-conditioned interior.She pulled her sunglasses from her shirt pocket and slid them on, shielding her eyes from the intense summer sun.
Another dead end.Another whispered promise of answers that dissolved like morning mist.Twenty years of searching for Piper, and she was no closer now than she’d been that first terrible day when her twin had vanished without a trace.
Jenna slid into her patrol car, the leather seat uncomfortably hot against her legs.She sat for a moment, hands resting on the steering wheel, allowing herself exactly thirty seconds of disappointment before pushing it away.
Her phone buzzed from its holder on the dashboard.The name on the screen—FBI Special Agent Hugh Cody—pulled her immediately into sheriff mode.
“Sheriff Graves,” she answered, starting the engine and letting the air conditioning battle the oppressive heat.
“Sheriff, good morning,” Cody’s voice came through, carrying its usual mix of intensity and professionalism.“I wanted to update you on our progress with the Harvesters case.”
Jenna pulled out of the hospital parking lot.“What have you got?”
“We’re closing in on their leadership structure.The evidence you uncovered in that mine was invaluable.Near the women’s cage we found medical equipment with serial numbers, supply orders, even a couple of partial fingerprints.We’ve linked this cell to operations in three other states.”
“Good,” Jenna said, feeling a small sense of satisfaction despite her earlier disappointment.“Any leads on who’s running the show?”
“We have names, but they’re aliases.Still, we’re making progress.”There was a pause before Cody continued.“I have to say, Sheriff, your instincts on this case have been remarkable.Finding that mine location...if I didn’t know better, I’d say you had an informant on the inside.”
Jenna tensed slightly.This wasn’t the first time Cody had probed about her unconventional investigative methods.“Sometimes traditional investigative techniques miss things,” she said carefully.“I just followed the trail.”
“A trail no one else could see,” Cody remarked.“Well, however you did it, you saved lives.I’ll keep you updated as we make progress.”
The call ended as Jenna pulled into the parking lot of the sheriff’s office.The small brick building sat in the heart of Trentville, its modest appearance belying its importance to the community.Jenna had barely stepped out of her car when her phone rang again.
