She needed to talk to Frank Doyle.The man who had been Sheriff before her was still her mentor and friend.He’d been texting her every few hours since she’d found Piper, hungry for updates but too considerate to intrude on their reunion.
Now she needed to not only enlist his help, but to prepare him for what was going on at her mother’s house.
When she reached for her phone, and punched in the number, Jake asked, “You calling Frank?”
“Yes, he’s been wanting to help out, but I just haven’t had time to fill him in.”
“He’ll be glad to hear from you.”
Frank answered on the first ring.“Jenna Marie,” he said, his voice warm with concern.“How’s our girl doing?”
The familiar use of her middle name steadied Jenna.
“She’s better than I expected in some ways, worse in others.”
“How so?”
“Physically, she’s all right.Underweight, some signs of malnutrition, but nothing critical.Mentally...”She hesitated, unsure how to describe her sister’s fractured memory and the strange episode she’d just witnessed.
“Give it time,” Frank said.“Twenty years is a long time to be gone.”
“That’s just it.She doesn’t remember most of those years.Just fragments.She called herself Emma, perhaps she went by other names as well.”Jenna swallowed against the tightness in her throat.“Dr.White at the hospital thinks Mom’s house is the best place for her right now—somewhere familiar, with people who care about her.But she doesn’t want Mom to be alone in this.”
“Do you want me to help with that, Jenna?The news of Derek Sullivan’s murder is all over town.”
“It would be great if you could just check in on them regularly—make sure they’re both doing okay.By the way, Dr.White specifically gave her approval of you.”
“Me?”Frank sounded surprised.“She recommended me?”
“Said she knew you since she was a girl.That you’d be perfect because...”
“Our grandmothers were close friends,” Frank finished for her.
“Yes, that’s exactly what she said.And she added that you come from a family that has insights.”
“Grandmothers,” he said with a laugh.“As you know, my own grandmother had a touch of the sight herself.Called it a burden and a blessing in equal measure.So perhaps hers did too.”There was a brief pause, then Frank’s voice returned, stronger.“Of course I’ll look in on them.I’m glad you finally asked.”
As Jake turned the car onto Maple Street, Jenna watched the neighborhood shift from the older Victorian homes near the town center to the more modest post-war houses where Brenda Drummond lived.She felt a flutter of anxiety at the approaching confrontation with the woman who was also her former schoolteacher.
“There’s something else you should know,” she continued telling Frank.“Something happened with Piper right before Jake called me about Derek Sullivan.”
“What kind of something?”Frank’s tone sharpened with interest.
“She had an...episode.Like she was receiving a message.She went pale, started shaking, and said ‘Red is for rage’ a couple of times.And then, minutes later, Jake called about Derek’s murder.”Jenna glanced at Jake, who gave her a grim nod.“Later I learned Derek’s body was found with red yarn wrapped all around him.I can’t help thinking there’s a connection.”
Frank was quiet for a long moment.“I’ll keep an eye out for moments like that,” he finally said.“If she has another one, I’ll let you know right away.”
“Thanks, Frank.I don’t know what any of this means yet, but...”
“But your sister apparently also has a gift, and she might be trying to tell us something important,” Frank concluded.“Don’t worry, Jenna Marie.Between us, we’ll figure it out.”
The SUV slowed as they approached a modest ranch-style home with meticulous flower beds bordering the front walkway.Despite the cheerful yellow paint, the house projected a stern austerity that perfectly matched its owner.
“We’re here,” Jenna told Frank.“I’ll call you later with more details.”
“Be careful,” Frank replied before hanging up.
Jake parked at the curb and killed the engine.“You ready for this?”
