“But she saved a life in the process,” Jake reminded her.“Besides, this is different.She'll be with us the entire time.”
Jenna wasn’t entirely convinced.They arrived at her mother’s house, and she pulled into the driveway behind Frank's truck, cutting the engine.
“Whatever happens,” Jake said, “we're in this together.”
The warmth in his eyes helped settle something for Jenna.She reached out and took his hand for a moment, grateful for his presence.Then she turned her mind back to their visit and got out of the car.
As they approached the front door, Jenna saw that it was open.The sweet, buttery aroma of cookies baking wafted through the air.Jenna felt an unexpected tug of nostalgia—how many times had she and Piper rushed home from school to that same smell?She pushed the door fully open and saw her mother standing in the hallway with a dish towel in hand.
“I heard your car,” Mom said.“Frank's been filling us in.”
In the living room, Frank sat in an armchair by the window, his weathered face brightening as they entered.Piper perched on the edge of the sofa, legs tucked beneath her.
“Jenna.”Piper rose, crossing the room to embrace her twin.
“Hey, Piper,” Jenna murmured, squeezing her sister before stepping back.“How are you holding up?”
“Better now that you're here.”Piper offered Jake a smile.“Frank says that what I said before was actually useful.”
“Sit down and relax a little,” Mom suggested.“I'll bring in some coffee.The cookies will be ready in a few minutes.”
Jenna settled onto the sofa with Piper beside her, while Jake took the adjacent armchair.Frank remained in his spot by the window, his solid presence a comfort in the room.
“So,” Frank said to Jenna, “you're thinking of bringing Piper in on this case.”
“Yes.But first, she needs to know exactly what we're dealing with.”
Piper straightened, her eyes bright.“Tell me everything.”
Mom returned with a tray of mugs and Jenna reached for one, letting the heat seep into her palms.She took a deep breath and began describing finding Claudia Kingsley's body in the woods behind her house, the way it was hanging, the wolf features, and how there were vultures circling above.
“It was just like you said,” she continued.“Later we went to see Leith Walsh at her bookstore.She showed us that the killer wanted it to look like the wolf from an original Grimm’s fairy tale.Not the Little Red Riding Hood we’re familiar with, where nobody got badly hurt.In the old one, the wolf swallowed both the grandmother and the girl alive, but they were cut from its belly.”
Mom's face had gone pale.“That's...horrific.”
“It is,” Jake agreed.“And deliberate.Every detail was arranged to match the old version of the story—not the sanitized version most people know.”
“The wolf's belly,” Piper whispered, her voice distant.“That's what I saw in my vision.And the vultures circling.”
“Exactly,” Jenna confirmed.“You were right about the vultures showing us where to look.That's why we're here.Your vision described elements of the crime scene before we even found the body.”
Frank leaned forward, elbows on his knees.“The question is whether that was a one-time thing or if you might be...tuned in to this situation somehow.”
“You think I could help find the killer?”Piper asked.
“It's possible,” Jenna said cautiously.“Your sensitivity —it might pick up on something we're missing.”
Mom set her mug down with a sharp click against the coffee table.“I don't like this.Piper's still recovering.”
“Mom,” Piper said gently, “I want to help.If my...ability...can stop someone else from being hurt, how can I not use it?”
“It's too dangerous,” Mom insisted.“What if you're drawn into a bad situation?”
Jenna assured her.“Piper won't be alone.She'll be with me, with Jake and Frank.We'll keep her safe.”
The timer in the kitchen chimed, and Mom rose automatically.“The cookies are done.We're not finished with this discussion,” she warned before disappearing into the kitchen.
Frank watched her go, then turned back to Jenna.“What exactly are you proposing, Sheriff?”
