As Dr.Stark's team began their meticulous work, Jenna and Jake stepped back into the hallway where Cathy Gifford waited, her complexion still ghost-white beneath her practical bob haircut.Officer Delgado moved aside to be out of the way.
“Ms.Gifford,” Jenna said, guiding her a few steps away from the apartment door, “can you tell us exactly what happened this morning?”
Cathy nodded, visibly gathering herself.“Amanda and I walk together three mornings a week.Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays.It was my idea—to give her some structure, get her out of the apartment.She’s been...struggling since losing her store.”
“And when you arrived this morning?”
“She didn’t answer when I knocked.That’s not too unusual—she’s not a morning person, especially lately.I have a key.”Cathy’s voice caught.“When I opened the door, it was dark inside.I called for her, checked the kitchen, then...I saw her on the bedroom floor.”
Jake’s expression softened with empathy.“Did you touch anything?Move anything?”
“I checked for a pulse.”A tear slipped down Cathy’s cheek.“I knew she was gone, but I had to be sure.”
“Of course,” Jake assured her.“That’s perfectly understandable.”
“Ms.Gifford,” Jenna said carefully, “did Amanda have any connection to Derek Sullivan?The man who was murdered earlier this week?”
Cathy’s brow furrowed in concentration.“Not that I know of.I mean, Trentville’s not huge, so everyone knows everyone to some degree, but I can’t think of any specific connection.”
She paused, then added, “Actually, wait.There might be something.Amanda mentioned seeing him at the Community Wellness Center a few months ago.She was attending a program there—anger management.The lawsuit and losing the store...it left her with a lot of rage.”Her voice broke slightly on the word.“She said Derek was in her group.But that was back in June, I think.”
Jenna and Jake exchanged glances.Was a new puzzle piece falling into place?
“Thank you, Ms.Gifford.That’s extremely helpful,” Jenna told her.“We’ll need you to come to the station later to give a formal statement, but for now, is there someone who can stay with you?This is a lot to process.”
“My husband,” Cathy said.“He’s on his way.He’ll take me home.”
After thanking her again, Jenna and Jake headed back to their vehicle.“So the killer was able to pick the lock,” Jenna commented, “then locked the door when they left.”
“Cool-headed,” Jake observed.“So our next stop is Heather Banning?”
“And then the Community Wellness Center,” Jenna said as they buckled in.
As Jake pulled away from the curb, Jenna’s thoughts turned to Piper, probably still sitting in their old room, perhaps still feeling the echoes of Amanda Hartford’s final moments.What would these communications do to her sister’s fragile recovery?How many more would come before they caught this killer?
“You okay?”Jake asked, glancing over as he drove toward Main Street, where Banning’s Finds would be opening for the day.
“I’m worried about Piper,” Jenna admitted.“These episodes—they take a toll on her.And I’m afraid they’re only going to get worse before this is over.”
Jake’s hand briefly left the steering wheel to squeeze her arm, a small gesture of support that spoke volumes.“We’ll figure this out, Jenna.Both the murders and how to help your sister.”
Jenna tried to draw comfort from his certainty as they headed toward Heather Banning's shop, but her mind kept circling back to the same troubling thought: Why was her newly returned sister receiving a killer's twisted messages like a human antenna tuned to violence?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Even as Jake guided his cruiser past cheerful storefronts coming to life with morning commerce, Jenna had to suppress a shiver.Two murders in as many days, both victims adorned in colored yarn like macabre artworks.
“You’re quiet,” Jake said, glancing at her as they stopped at a red light.“Thinking about the connection between the yarns?”
“Red is for rage,” Jenna murmured.“And green is for envy.Those two things Piper said—they’re what the yarns mean, I’m sure of it.”
The light changed, and they moved forward.
“And it fits,” Jenna said.“Derek Sullivan had anger issues.And Amanda Hartford...”
“Was eaten alive by jealousy over Heather Banning’s success,” Jake finished.“And everybody in town knew about both of them and their issues.”
Jenna nodded, watching as they approached the block where Banning’s Finds occupied a prime corner spot, large windows displaying artfully arranged home goods and clothing.Even from the car, Jenna could see customers already browsing inside.
