Page 11 of In Her Memory

“I know that, and part of Piper knows that too. But these... communications... they can be extraordinarily persuasive. Especially when they play on existing fears and doubts. And she’s been hearing them for so many years.”

“What are you saying, exactly?”

“The voices have become more persistent. And it’s possible that a new voice has been speaking—one that is particularly convincing.” Dr. White paused again. “This is my speculation, of course, but as I said, she’s been feeling a lot of pressure lately. They don’t just speak to her, Jenna. They show her things, convince her of threats that may not exist in our reality but are terrifyingly real to her. Something like a powerful new one would explain a sudden decision to leave.”

“They’re telling her we’re dangerous to her?”

“Or that she’s dangerous to you,” Dr. White countered. “That was always her deepest fear—that she would somehow bring harm to those she loves. That didn’t go away completely, even when she began to feel more secure in her identity as Piper. Allowing herself to be persuaded that you and all her loved ones are imaginary can be a way of coping with that fear.”

Jenna didn’t know how to reply. She had recognized the progress her sister was making, but hadn’t understood the depth of the problems.

“Sheriff,” Dr. White’s voice took on an unexpected tone, almost hesitant. “I hope you won’t find this question inappropriate, but... have you had any dreams pertinent to Piper’s disappearance?”

The question caught Jenna off guard. It had slipped her mind that she had described her own lucid dreaming gift to the psychiatrist, hoping that it might help explain her sister’s experiences.

“Yes,” Jenna admitted, her voice dropping. “My father came to me. He’s the one who told me Piper was missing, just before Mom called to tell me she was gone.”

“Interesting.” The single word carried layers of meaning. “What exactly did he say?”

“That I needed to find Piper before it was too late.” Jenna swallowed hard. “He seemed... desperate. Afraid for her. He said that he’d be looking for her, too.”

Dr. White was quiet for a long moment. “It seems strange, doesn’t it? A dead person looking for a missing person.” Her voice grew thoughtful. “Perhaps your father will help you find her. Perhaps he’ll have insights that we don’t.”

Before Jenna could respond, her phone beeped with another incoming call. She glanced at the screen: Jake Hawkins.

“Dr. White, I need to take this. It’s my deputy.”

“Of course. Call me if you learn anything new—or if you have any more pertinent dreams. Day or night. I will tell you whatever I can if it seem to be connected.”

Jenna thanked her and started making her way out of the building. As she walked, she switched calls with a swipe of her thumb. “Jake, what have you got?”

Jake’s voice came through, tense and focused. “I’m at Calloway House. I’ve been looking at the scene, and something doesn’t add up. It looks like Donna was on a step ladder in her laundry changing a lightbulb, apparently fell and hit her head on the counter. But here’s the thing—she had a dog.”

Jenna’s pulse quickened. “A dog?”

“Yeah, little terrier mix named Biscuit.”

Biscuit. The name she’d heard in her dream—the woman in darkness had been calling out to a barking dog named Biscuit. And she’d said quite clearly, “I need to find out who did this to me.”

“Then the woman in my dream really was Donna Marsh.” Jenna straightened in her seat. “And this wasn’t an accident. Someone made it look like she fell.”

“That’s what I’m thinking too. The scene is just a little too neat. And why would she get up on a ladder that late, rather than wait till morning then ask her super to change the lightbulb?”

“What are you doing right now?” Jenna asked.

“I was just heading for my car to go back to the station. But I do think there’s more to find out here.”

“We need to be careful, Jake. If we’re dealing with a murder, I don’t want to tip off the killer that we’re suspicious. And we can’t exactly explain just why we think this is a murder, anyhow. But you’re right. You should stay there and call Officer Delgado to join you. Tell everyone it’s routine follow-up. Check the laundry room again—discreetly. Look for anything out of place, any sign someone might have been hiding there, or that her fall wasn’t an accident, or that she died some other way.”

“Will do.”

“Thanks Jake. Do you want me to come out to Calloway House, too?”

“No, you keep looking for Piper. Any luck so far?”

“I’m afraid not. I called Dr. White, her therapist. You know how Piper hears voices that try to talk her out of … well, being Piper. Dr. White said that the voices have been more insistent lately, and that a new one might be convincing my sister that she’s Emma Kirby after all.”

Jenna swallowed hard. “Jake, I’m scared,” she said. “I’m afraid we’ve lost her forever. What if—?