“Okay, Claire, let me get this straight.” Jim leaned back in his easy chair after listening to Claire’s description of her latest dream.
“Libby saw the flashing light on her door that alerted her to somebody knocking. She went to the door and opened it. Then, she went outside to greet this visitor, but you didn’t see the person in the dream, right?”
“No, and that is a concern to me because she never did show me who it was. She kept the identity a secret…and I don’t know why. If someone took her, why didn’t she reveal it to me in the dream?”
Jim hesitated before replying, “Let’s not worry about that for now because we’re not even sure what happened to her yet. But if she showed you this sequence in a dream, what would be her motivation?”
Claire threw up her hands before placing them on her knees, “I don’t know, Jim. That’s what doesn’t make sense to me!”
“Continue on with the details. Let’s see if I can help you,” he requested.
Claire cleared her throat and began again, “She left with someone that night. It seemed as if she knew who it was because her expression was one of familiarity. She followed this ‘somebody’ to a location where there was a power utility substation close to her house.
We already knew that because the footprints led to this location,” Claire explained. “The shoeprint impression left in my yard was probably referring to this part.”
She added, “But I didn’t know what happened next, and Libby gave me more information in the dream.”
Jim motioned for Claire to resume.
“She showed me a motorcycle. She got on the back and took off with whoever was driving the bike.”
“At the time we thought a male was involved with Libby’s disappearance because we have the larger shoeprints and they match a type and brand of shoe that is popular with guys, but other than that, we have nothing else,” Claire ended.
Jim asked, “In the dream did she show you where they went?”
“Yes, but most of what I could see was water. She indicated that she was close to a body of water,” Claire replied. “That explains the water in my yard…”
He interrupted, “Could you tell, from what you saw, where this place might be?”
“I’m not sure but I might be able to locate it,” Claire answered.
She wavered before continuing, “I think I recognized the surroundings. It might be close to Pine Lake.”
Jim gave her a questioning stare.
She explained, “There were a lot of pine trees in the background. My Dad used to take me fishing there. He…”
Persevering, Jim said, “Focus on the dream, Claire. Just think about what she showed you.”
Deep in thought now, Claire added, “and there was a short but overgrown path, leading to a dock. The dock was pretty rickety. There was an old canoe, tipped up on its side, next to the dock. Grass was growing up around it, like it had been there for a while. She…she looked at the water, but then she extended her arm and pointed to the trees.”
By way of explanation, Claire said, “All in all there are some pretty remote areas around that lake…”
“I’m familiar with Pine Lake,” Jim said. “I think we could find it, with those details, and both of us looking.
He asked, “Would you want to go and scout around?”
Claire paused and then replied, “I want to check it out, Jim, but first I have some other questions that are bothering me…and they need to be answered before we can move forward.”
“What questions, Claire?”
“Well, for starters, I want to know why she came to me in a dream. Why would she do that if she’s still alive?”
Jim shook his head, “That’s something I can’t answer either.”
Claire continued in a rush, “Because if she’s alive, why wouldn’t she just write, call, or come and see me? If she’s being held against her will, how could she still be alive after all this time? What is the significance of this place near water? Why the blood? And, finally, how can someone who is dead leave fingerprints on a knife?”
At this barrage of questions, Jim threw his hands up, as stumped by the incongruity of the findings as Claire was.
She looked at him, “Where is she? What happened to her? She’s left out all the answers to the most burning questions.”
He stared back at her before lowering his head, “I don’t know, Claire, but I think I know someone who might be able to help if you want to go and see her.”
“If someone has information that can help us find Libby, I’m all for it!”
Puzzled, she continued, “Why didn’t you say something before?
He sat there with his head down, hands clasped together, not answering.
Restlessly, she asked him another question, “Who is this person you’re talking about?”
Jim grimaced but said, “You might laugh at me when you hear what I’m about to say, but give it a chance.”
“What do you mean by that?” Claire looked at him quizzically.
“Her name is Lynn Brookmeier. Have you ever heard of her?”
“No, should I?”
“Maybe,” he paused, “but I don’t know if you’ll want to talk to her.”
“For God’s sake, Jim,” she replied rather quickly. “Why wouldn’t I want to talk to her if she has information about Libby?”
“Well, there’s one thing you need to know…,” he wavered as if he was considering how best to answer her.
Claire gestured her hands toward him in an impatient manner and said, “Out with it! What?”
“She’s a… psychic.”
* * * * *
Captain Marvin Hennessey hung up the phone and stared at his desk.
I can’t imagine a trucking company that would hire someone, have that person work for them for years, and not know any background. That’s just crazy!
He sighed, but unfortunately it happens all the time. And now, it’s making information more difficult to come by.
He smiled when he remembered what he had told Claire recently. She’ll tease me unmercifully when she finds out how hard I’m working on this…and I just retired!
Shaking his head, state police are a bunch of workaholics and they don’t know how to retire!
He put on his glasses and prepared to do more research on the computer.
Funny thing…This Trent Newman seems to have no past. According to the personnel director at Landry trucking company, Mr. Newman just showed up one day and they gave him a job. At least that’s what it sounded like.
Chief Hennessey remembered the request he made over the phone.
About that time the fax number rang and he hoped that it was the information he had asked for.
If there’s anything helpful in his records, it will show up in the application he submitted when he first began working there…or at least give me a starting point, because right now I’ve hit a roadblock.
Marvin thought back to the information he had read in the police reports so far. Evidently this Newman character didn’t make a good impression on Libby’s family or friends. At least he didn’t share much information about himself. According to them, he did say he was adopted and his adoptive parents were dead; no brothers or sisters; no previous marriages that we know about.
He collected the papers from the fax machine and started to read. Has worked at Landry Trucking for seven years; good record there so far, according to the contact…
Suddenly he shot up in his chair as he read over the list of references that Trent Newman had written on his resume.
Claire Dungarven! Why would he have Claire listed as a reference?
This is getting very strange! I think I’d better call that personnel director back and ask him if they ever checked his references. How would Trent Newman know Claire?
* * * * *
As the intruder sped away from Claire’s house, a fog-like substance began to grow and take shape. It evolved slowly into an ethereal being, watching and waiting in the woods, wishing for her to come back home.
Not much time left.
The ghostly figure seemed to bend in response to the wind in the trees.
I need to tell the whole story.
Hidden, the spirit blended in with the snowy backdrop so well that anyone who happened to look out their window or drive by in a car would think that the wind had picked up the snow and made it dance in the icy afternoon sunlight.
It has to be soon or they won’t find me. Someone is making sure of that!
The wisp seemed to respond more fervently as agitation grew.
What am I going to do now? The clue is gone!
The white form fluttered, acknowledging the chilly breeze, or maybe was it fear? Growing dread? Or, a feeling of hopelessness?
I must lead them to my place.
* * * * *
“A psychic!” Claire exclaimed. “You think a psychic can help me with this case?” Exasperatedly she ran her fingers through her hair while staring down Jim.
“Now Claire, it’s just a suggestion,” he responded.
She plunged ahead, oblivious to his attempt to explain, “I can’t believe you would want me to see a psychic!”
She continued, a little calmer, “It’s just that I didn’t expect that from you…but I can see what you’re telling me.”
Claire considered the idea and the possibility of discovering new information about the case.
“You know what, you might have something there,” she reluctantly agreed.
She walked in circles around the living room, “If she is dead, Libby might come through, with the help of this psychic, and tell us more. And, if she’s still alive, maybe Lynn can help us find her.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, Claire,” Jim replied.
She looked at him and asked, “Have you used her before…on a case I mean.”
Jim grinned as he answered her question, “Yes, I’ve used her before on a case and she proved to be very helpful.”
“Well, are you going to tell me about it?” She put her hands on her hips and planted herself in front of the chair Jim was sitting in.
He took a deep breath before answering, “About eight years ago we had a suspicious fire here in the Conservancy. Do you remember hearing about that, Claire?”
She nodded affirmatively and motioned for him to continue.
“We found a body in the ruins. It was burned badly—beyond recognition.” Jim stopped talking and grimaced at the tragic details and horrible images of the story that the recollections brought up.
He shook his head glumly and resumed speaking, “We presumed it was the owner, but after checking through his background, we found bad credit; he was about to lose his house; his finances were a disaster. By that time, his wife had cremated what was left of the remains and buried the urn in the family plot. Therefore, DNA wasn’t available and besides, testing wasn’t as sophisticated as it is now.”
“That happens, but what made you think it wasn’t him?”
“We heard rumors of sightings, after the fire, around the county. But you know how people can be. They think they see someone and then it pans out not to be true.”
“But, people who knew him were hinting that he might have planned what looked like his own death. He probably thought he could collect on the life insurance, with the help of the wife, who was home at the time of the fire and ran to the neighbors for help.”
Jim added, “She was acting very suspiciously too.”
“How so?”
“Well, she rented a small place in a rural area, but stayed in the county after the fire. When we would go out to talk with her, she never let us in the house. She’d always see us coming and walk out on the porch to speak with us,” Jim explained.
“Of course, a lot of people who live here have a distrusting attitude toward the police, but she seemed extra cautious.”
“Did you ever see him yourself?”
“No, but we couldn’t ignore the rumors that were running rampant, so we decided to take a more drastic approach.”
“And you called on this Lynn Brookmeier,” Claire added.
“Exactly, and we were surprised at the answers she gave us.”
“What did she tell you?”
Jim leaned forward in the chair, “She told us that he was not dead.”
Claire raised her eyebrows at this revelation, “Was she able to tell you where he might be?”
“Unfortunately, she wasn’t getting enough clear information to tell us his location.”
He stopped, as if remembering something, and then proceeded, “Lynn said she was seeing him, but the picture was murky and confusing; she couldn’t get a distinct image of where he was.” Jim felt a nagging sensation pricking at his consciousness, just out of reach.
“I remember reading in the newspaper about the search to find him, but can’t recall hearing anything about that piece of the puzzle. Didn’t the wife file to have him declared legally dead last year?”
The uneasy feeling Jim had began to fade as he concentrated on the question and replied, “Yes, and we had to give up our search. Haven’t had reports of any sightings since those initial ones. He just evaporated into thin air; she’s gone too; she moved to Tennessee and we haven’t heard anything from her since she had him declared legally dead, just vanished…no one knows where she is now. Maybe they’re together again, but we’d probably have to showcase it on “America’s Most Wanted” to get any new leads on their whereabouts,” Jim surmised.
“Sounds frustrating,” Claire replied.
“Extremely, because we’ve lost track of both of them.”
“Very cunning,” she said, “but one of these days you’ll find them. He can’t hide forever.”
“That’s what we’re hoping,” Jim agreed.
Claire sat down on the couch, thought about what Jim had told her, and decided, “Okay, I’ll go see Lynn. Maybe she can at least tell me if Libby is dead or alive. It’s worth a shot,” she reasoned.
Jim pointed to the kitchen, “I have her phone number in my address book. It’s in the kitchen next to the phone. Could you bring it to me?”
Claire stood up and walked over to the kitchen while responding, “Sure, but I really want you to go with me. Do you feel well enough to do it if she says to come over today?”
He nodded and said, “I think we’d better, as soon as possible.” His expression was disquieting.
“Are you sure? You don’t look good, Jim.”
“Yes,” he told her, “In fact, I have a real sense of urgency.”
He frowned as he tried to focus on the bothersome impressions that were filling his mind again, and hesitated before telling her the next part, “Libby wants us to know the truth.”