Page 43 of In Her Bed
Jenna offered Tony an encouraging nod and motioned for him to go on.
“I called the Pinecrest Police Department,” he confessed, frustration seeping into his tone.“But they didn’t seem too concerned.Told me adults go off-grid all the time, maybe she had a date, all that crap.”
His eyes darted towards the parking lot visible through the studio window.“But her car...the little blue sedan, it’s still out there in the lot.”His voice cracked slightly, “Something’s not right, I just know it.”
As Tony was explaining his concern, something across the lobby caught Jenna’s attention.Her breath caught in her throat.Sitting on a vintage table in the corner was an antique phonograph, its brass horn gleaming under the recessed lighting.
Tony gave Jenna and Jake a curious look.“But you said you’re from Genesius County?Why are you looking for Sandra?Do you know something about …?”
Barely registering that Tony was still speaking, Jenna moved toward the phonograph.
It was definitely the phonograph from her dream, she realized when she got closer.The polished wood base, the intricate floral pattern etched into the horn—every detail matched what she’d seen when Sandra visited her in her dream.
“Sheriff?”Jake’s voice sounded distant.
She turned back to find both men watching her, Jake with understanding, Tony looking confused.
“This phonograph,” she said, struggling to keep her voice steady.“Is it Sandra’s?”
Tony looked surprised by the question.“Yes, she bought it a few days ago.Bit of an impulse purchase, but she collects vintage audio equipment.Said it was too beautiful to pass up.”
Jenna carefully examined the device, noting the cylinder installed in the mechanism.“Does it work?”
“Surprisingly well for its age.Sandra had it playing yesterday before she left.”A small, sad smile crossed Tony’s face.“She was thrilled that it came with a few original cylinders.”
“What song is this?”Jenna asked, though she was sure she already knew the answer.
Tony stepped closer.“‘In the Good Old Summer Time,’ I think.One of those old standards.Sandra was particularly excited about that one—said it was in remarkable condition for something from the early 1900s.”
The confirmation sent ice through Jenna’s veins.There was no way she could have known that detail—she’d never even heard the song before the dream.Yet she could hear it now, playing in her memory, Sandra’s voice singing along to the crackling melody.
“Where did she get the phonograph?”Jake asked, picking up the investigative thread as Jenna composed herself.
“From an estate sale last weekend.Howard Mitchell’s collection.He started the Mitch’s Den chain of electronics stores, quite the collector of audio equipment through the ages.Passed away a while back, and his daughter finally got around to selling off his collection.”
Estate sale.The words resonated in Jenna’s mind.
“Do you know a ham radio operator named Marcus Derrick?He also bought something at that estate sale.”
Tony looked surprised.“I don’t know him personally, but Sandra mentioned running into him there.Said he was acting weird, all paranoid about modern technology.He bought some old radio set.I think she actually said vacuum tubes.What does this have to do with …?”
The connection solidified in Jenna’s mind.Two victims who had attended the same estate sale, both purchasing antique audio equipment.It wasn’t a coincidence.Surely the killer had been at that sale, watching, selecting.
Alarm spread across Tony’s face.“But didn’t I hear that Marcus Derrick was found dead somewhere?”
Jake stepped in smoothly.“We’re just following up on possible connections in an ongoing investigation, Mr.Silke.We can’t release any details yet.”
Tony wasn’t convinced.“This has something to do with Sandra disappearing, doesn’t it?Please—she’s not just my boss, she’s my friend.”
Jenna met his gaze, seeing the genuine concern there.“We’re going to do everything we can to find her.I promise you that.”The hollow reassurance tasted bitter on her tongue.
“Call us immediately if you hear from her,” Jake added, handing Tony a business card.
Tony nodded, clutching the card as if it was a lifeline.“Please find her.Please.”
Once they were out of earshot, Jake turned to Jenna.
“The phonograph from your dream,” he said quietly.“Exactly as you described it.”
