Page 12 of In Her Bed
“Does this thing have power?”she asked, her gaze fixed on the intricate array of vacuum tubes and wires.
“Yes,” Morgan replied.“It’s connected.”
Spotting what looked like a power switch, with a decisive click, she flipped it on.The room was instantly filled with the nostalgic hiss of static, like whispers from ghosts of the past.The vacuum tubes flickered to life, casting an amber glow that that was eerily similar to the images from her dream - so vivid, so precise that it sent a shiver down her spine.
“Listen to that,” she said softly.“It’s like stepping back in time.”
She glanced at Jake, who stood slightly behind Morgan and Spelling, his eyes communicating a silent understanding that the others couldn’t share.How could she possibly explain to Morgan and Spelling that this radio—this specific piece of outdated technology—was significant without revealing the source of her certainty?
The metal casing felt cool beneath her fingertips as she adjusted the frequency dial, watching the needle slide across numbered increments.She realized the others were waiting for her to say something, to justify her sudden fascination with this relic.
Chief Morgan shifted his weight, clearly impatient.“What exactly are you looking for, Sheriff?”
“I think we need to find out more about this setup,” she said.“It might tell us something about Derrick.”
Colonel Spelling folded his arms across his chest, his uniform creasing with the movement.“You think his choice of radio equipment is relevant to his murder?”
She met his gaze directly.“I do.”
What she couldn’t say was that she had seen these tubes, this exact configuration, in her lucid dream.The dead had often shown her fragmented clues that only made sense later.But she knew that explanation wouldn’t fly with the Highway Patrol Superintendent or Pinecrest’s Chief of Police.
Although Spelling looked doubtful, he didn’t argue with her.Jenna realized he was remembering that she had surprised him before with her solutions to cases
Jake cleared his throat.“Old tech is harder to track,” he offered.“No digital footprint.”
Jenna gave him a grateful glance.He’d become adept at providing plausible explanations for her intuitive leaps.
“Exactly,” she said, building on his suggestion.“If Derrick was as eccentric as his home setup suggests, his choice to use outdated equipment matters.”
Morgan’s skepticism was evident in the tightening of his mouth, but he nodded.
“What I’d really like,” Jenna continued, “is to talk to the ham operator who reported the incident.The one who was on the line with Derrick when it happened.”
Colonel Spelling’s posture straightened, his attention sharpening.“That would be Todd Lakin, out of Omaha.He’s the one who contacted the Highway Patrol.”
“Do you have his contact information?”Jenna asked, seizing the opportunity.
Spelling nodded.“Got his number right here.”He pulled out his phone, scrolling through contacts.“You think he might have more details than what he told the responding officers?”
“People remember different things when you ask different questions,” Jenna said.“And I have some very specific questions about this radio.”
The colonel found the number and held up his phone.“Want me to put him on speaker?”
“Please,” Jenna said, stepping closer as Spelling placed the call.
The phone rang three times before a male voice answered.
“Hello?”
“Is this Todd Lakin?”Spelling said.
“Speaking.”
“Mr.Lakin, this is Colonel Chadwick Spelling with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.We spoke before about the incident you reported”
“Yes, Colonel.Have you found out anything more?”Lakin’s voice sounded tired but alert.
“I’m sorry to say that we’ve learned that the operator you called us about was murdered,” Chadwick said.“His name was Marcus Derrick.I’m here at his home with Sheriff Jenna Graves of Genesius County, Deputy Jake Hawkins, and Chief Rudy Morgan of the Pinecrest Police Department.We’re investigating his death, and Sheriff Graves would like to ask you a few questions.”
