Jenna met his gaze steadily.“I want to take Piper to Claudia's property—to the crime scene.See if being there triggers anything.Of course, it’s all cleaned up now.”
“A controlled environment,” Jake added, “with the three of us there to protect her.”
Piper nodded eagerly.“Yes.That sounds perfect.I need to learn how this all works.How it can be good and not evil.If I could just...see the place, maybe touch something that belonged to her...”Then her voice trailed off, her expression becoming distant, as if already reaching beyond the visible.
“Piper?”Jenna prompted, concern tightening her chest.
Piper blinked, her focus returning.“Sorry.The voices.They're quiet now, but they're...waiting.Like they know something's coming.”
Before Jenna could respond, Mom returned with a plate of golden cookies, the smell of vanilla and cinnamon filling the room.
“I heard what you're planning,” she said, setting the plate down with more force than necessary.“And I still don't like it.”
“We'll be careful,” Frank assured her, rising from his chair.“And I'll be with them the whole time.”
Mom's shoulders slumped slightly, her resistance giving way to resignation.“Promise me you won't let her out of your sight.Not for a second.”
“I promise,” Jenna said, meeting her mother's worried gaze.
“We all do,” Jake added firmly.
Mom sighed, then straightened her shoulders.“Well, there's nothing I can do to stop you.But I expect all of you to return in one piece.”She added with a stiff smile, “There'll be cookies waiting.”
The drive to Claudia Kingsley's house was charged with a strange energy.Piper sat in the back seat with Frank, leaning forward as Jenna drove, her eyes bright with anticipation.
“Will there still be police at the house?”she asked.
“Yes,” Jake replied, glancing back at her.“We've still got officers processing everything in case there’s evidence we haven’t seen yet.”
“What am I looking for, exactly?”
Jenna caught her sister's gaze in the rearview mirror.“I don't know, Piper.That's what we're trying to find out.Just...be open to whatever impressions you get.But don't force anything.”
“And if the voices start getting loud?”Piper asked anxiously.
“You tell us immediately,” Frank said gruffly.“No heroics.We can just leave whenever you want to.”
Piper settled back in her seat as they turned onto the street where Claudia Kingsley had lived—and died.It was a quiet residential area on the edge of town, the houses set far apart on large properties, many including wooded areas.
Claudia's house came into view—a well-kept home, garden, and yard with the woods visible out back.A patrol car sat in the driveway, and yellow police tape cordoned off the property.Jenna pulled up behind the patrol car and cut the engine.
“Ready?”she asked, turning to look at her twin.
Piper nodded, her expression determined.
They approached the house, where Officer Ramirez stood guard at the front door.He straightened as they approached.
“Sheriff,” he greeted her.His gaze lingered curiously on Piper, clearly noting the resemblance between the twins.
“Ramirez,” Jenna acknowledged.“This is my sister, Piper.She's consulting on the case.”
If Ramirez was surprised, he didn't show it.He simply stepped aside, holding the door open for them.“We’re looking for any evidence we can find inside the house.So far, no luck.Forensics team is still working out back.”
“Thanks.We'll try not to disturb them.”Jenna led the way into the house.
Inside, Claudia's life was frozen in the everyday details—a coffee mug left on the counter, a book splayed open on the side table, a jacket hanging on the hook by the door, all while officers eerily moved about poring over everything, as if in slow motion.Jenna watched as Piper moved slowly through the space, her fingers occasionally brushing against surfaces, her expression thoughtful.
“Do you feel anything?”Jake asked quietly.