Page 14 of In Her Bed
“No.He was extremely secretive.Wouldn’t even tell me his name or exact location.I only knew he was in Missouri from his call sign.That’s why I called the Missouri Highway Patrol when I heard the gunshot.”
“Thank you, Mr.Lakin.You’ve been extremely helpful,” Jenna said, mentally filing away every detail.
“Is there anything else you can think of?Anything at all that might help us understand what happened?”Jake added.
“Just that he seemed genuinely frightened of something.I’d written it off as paranoia, but now...”Lakin’s voice trailed off.
After a few more questions yielded no new information, Jenna thanked Lakin again, and Colonel Spelling ended the call.
The room fell silent for a moment as they all processed what they’d heard.
“Well,” Chief Morgan said finally, “sounds like our victim was as … odd … as his radio rig suggested.”
Colonel Spelling nodded.“Conspiracy theorists aren’t uncommon in isolated areas.They tend to feed their own delusions.”
Jenna stared at the silent radio.The vacuum tubes that had featured so prominently in her dream now seemed to mock her with their significance.
“I need to find out where he got this radio,” she said, more firmly this time.
Morgan frowned.“I don’t see how that’s relevant to finding his killer.”
“Trust me,” Jenna insisted.“It matters.”
She met Morgan’s skeptical gaze without flinching.Years of police work had taught her how to project confidence even when her reasons were unexplainable.
“Actually,” Morgan said after a moment, his frown easing somewhat, “I might have an idea about that.”
Jenna waited, trying not to appear too eager.
“Howard Mitchell,” Morgan continued.“Died about three weeks ago of a heart attack.Owned a chain of electronics stores across the Midwest—Mitch’s Den.Ever heard of it?”
Jenna nodded.The stores were well-known throughout Missouri.
“Mitchell lived here in Pinecrest,” Morgan said.“Eccentric guy.Had an obsession with vintage audio equipment.His house was practically a museum of the stuff.”Morgan gestured toward the ham radio.“Vacuum tubes, phonographs, you name it.His daughter Rebecca’s been holding an estate sale, selling off his collection.”
Colonel Spelling looked interested now.“You think Derrick might have bought this radio at the estate sale?”
“It’s possible,” Morgan acknowledged.“Rebecca’s a lawyer, lives in Connecticut.She’s been here for the past month, trying to clear out the house.”
Jenna didn’t hesitate.“I want to talk to her.Today, if possible.”
She pulled out her phone and snapped several photos of the setup from different angles.Then she switched off the old radio.The vacuum tubes’ amber glow faded, leaving only their ghost image in her mind.
“Do you know where the Mitchell house is?”she asked Morgan.
“On the north side of town.Big Victorian place on Oakwood Drive.Can’t miss it.”
Colonel Spelling checked his watch.“I can accompany you if you’d like, Sheriff.”
“I appreciate that, Colonel.”Jenna nodded, then turned to Morgan.“Chief, would you mind driving us there?”
Morgan shrugged, clearly still uncertain about the relevance of this lead but unwilling to argue.“Sure thing.I’ll call Rebecca Mitchell on the way and her know that we’re coming.”
As they filed out of the mobile home, Jenna felt a familiar strain between her professional instincts and her supernatural knowledge.The vacuum tubes weren’t just a random detail; they were also a message from beyond, a clue left for her to follow.
She and Jake fell into step behind Morgan and Spelling as they walked toward the SUV parked on the dirt drive.
“You think there’s really something to Derrick’s conspiracy theories?”Jake whispered, close enough that only she could hear.
