“NO,” I sniff. “GOT DAN.”
“You did what?” Mom asks as we make our way into the kitchen.
“We forgot the onions, but the police have Dan,” Jodi tells Mom. “Because of Jemma.”
Mom’s mouth opens, but she can’t speak.
“FOUND SARAH,” I tell her.
“Is she…?” Mom asks.
“She’s alive,” says Jodi.
Mom listens to our story. A police officer arrives at the door. I recognize him from the garages. He says he is Detective Sergeant Bell, and he wants to ask me and Jodi some questions. He wants us to come to the station so they can videotape my answers. I have done so much sniffing today that I can barely stay awake. I ask how Sarah is, but all the detective can say is that she’s been taken to the hospital, which I already know.
At least at the police station Sergeant Bell questions me as if he believes everything I’m saying. He’s very different from Officer Hunt.
When we’re finished, Mom drops Jodi off at her house and takes me home. I am able to tell her I want to sit in the living room with some gentle music on. I think if she hadn’t been able to ask me, she would have put me to bed, but my mind is whirring far too much to sleep.
I can’t believe what just happened. What Dan did… It makes me sick. Keeping Sarah locked up in a garage all these weeks, and coming around here pretending he was worried about her. And what if Jodi and I hadn’t been there at that moment? I think how we nearly turned back. We were about to. I shudder. Poor Sarah… I can’t imagine what it was like locked in there. She must have been desperate. She must have wondered if she’d ever get out.
Then I think about what I did. I can hardly believe that either. Dan thought I was powerless, but I wasn’t. I knew I wanted to communicate, but I never really thought about the power it would give me. I feel different—as if I have a new inner strength. Even so, I realize there are some things you just can’t control—no one can—like the way other people behave.
* * *
We have fish and french fries for dinner, and I manage to sniff, “KETCHUP.” Mom looks at me in surprise before mashing some ketchup into my fries. Mom fills Dad in on everything that’s happened. Dad shakes his head in disbelief.
I watch Finn lining up his fries in neat rows on his plate. The next minute, he’s pushed the plate away and is banging his head on the table.
“Finn! Stop that,” Dad tells him. “What’s the matter?”
I look, and I can see what’s wrong. Finn is one fry short. As he leaned over the plate, a fry attached itself to his sweater and is still hanging below his elbow.
I have to swallow my mouthful, and then I sniff, “FINN.”
His head jerks up in surprise at the computer voice saying his name. He looks bewildered. He doesn’t seem sure where it’s coming from.
I select the speaker again. “FINN. FINN.” Until he looks at me. “FRY SWEATER,” I tell him. Finn looks at his sweater and suddenly sees the french fry. He pulls it off and puts it back in line on his plate.
“Nice job, Jemma,” says Dad.
This is the first thing I have said to Finn. He glances up at me, meeting my eyes for just a second. He’s smiling.
The next day Mom is supposed to come with me to school to show my teachers how the sniff controller works. I feel completely drained after yesterday, though, and tell her I don’t feel up to going to school.
“Don’t worry,” says Mom. “Stay home today and rest. I’ll come and show them another day.”
It is late afternoon when the phone rings. Mom answers it and then runs into the living room.
“Jemma, that was Paula. The police have gotten the DNA results back from the knife. Someone tried to clean it with bleach, apparently, but there were still tiny specks of blood. It was the knife that killed Ryan!”
“DAN,” I sniff.
“No,” says Mom. “Dan’s alibi for that night was backed up by security cameras. He was miles away at a casino, or something. But what they have discovered is that a hair found on Ryan’s clothing belongs to Billy. He’s the main suspect now, Paula says.”
“WHY BILLY,” I sniff. That doesn’t make sense.
If Billy killed Ryan, why did Dan make me think he did it?
“I’ve no idea why Billy did it,” says Mom.
“SARAH?” I ask.
“I’ve spoken to Kate,” says Mom. “They’re keeping her in the hospital for a few days, but it sounds like she’ll be okay.”
I am so relieved. I just want her back here.