Page 16 of In Her Wake
Jake pulled out his notepad.“Amberson Museum Figures.Worth checking if they have records of who purchased this.”
“That might be difficult,” Liza replied.“They went out of business about ten years ago.I doubt that this was planned that far ahead.”
Jenna and Jake exchanged a look.Another potential lead evaporated before they could pursue it.
“And there’s something else,” Jake said to Liza.“Darla Fenwick confirmed that these are the exact clothes Marjory was wearing today.At lunch, around noon.”
Liza’s eyes widened.“So whoever did this...took her clothes?Put them on this thing?”She gestured at the mannequin.“That suggests—”
“That something happened to the real Marjory,” Jenna finished.“Yes.”
Liza pressed her temples, as if warding off a headache.“God, I hope she’s okay.We had our differences, but...”She trailed off, looking genuinely distressed.
“You knew Marjory well?”Jenna asked, watching her friend’s face carefully.
“We used to be closer,” Liza admitted.“Until we had a falling out about a year ago.”
Jake’s pen hovered over his notepad.“What was the disagreement about?”
Liza shifted her weight, suddenly uncomfortable.“I’d rather not say, if that’s alright.It was personal, and I’m sure it doesn’t have anything to do with...this.”She gestured at the mannequin.
Jenna studied her friend for a moment.She’d known Liza long enough to recognize when she was holding something back, but also when she was being sincere.Whatever had come between Liza and Marjory a year ago, Jenna didn’t sense it was relevant to the current situation.
“Alright,” she said finally.“But if you think of anything that might help us understand what happened to her—”
“Of course,” Liza said quickly.“I’d tell you immediately.”
She took one last look at the mannequin, a shudder passing visibly through her.“I should get back to Gildner.I have that commission deadline coming up.”
“Thanks for coming, Liza.You’ve been a huge help.”
“Anytime.”Liza’s eyes met Jenna’s, a silent acknowledgment of their shared history, the bond that had survived despite the years and diverging paths.“You’ll find her, Jenna.”
When Liza had gone, Jenna turned to Jake.“I don’t think there’s much more we can do here tonight.Colonel Spelling’s team will be here first thing tomorrow.”
Jake nodded.“I’ll have the night shift maintain the scene.”
Jenna found Mike in the living room.“We’re heading out.Keep the scene secured overnight.Nobody touches anything, especially the mannequin.”
“Yes, Sheriff,” Mike replied.“The Colonel’s people arrive at eight tomorrow?”
“That’s the plan.I’ll be here before then.Call me if anything changes.”
Outside, the streetlights had flickered on, casting pools of yellow light down the quiet residential street.As they descended the front steps, two figures approached from the sidewalk—Officers Baldry and Delgado returning from their canvassing efforts.
“Any luck?”Jake called to them.
Baldry shook his head, his broad shoulders slumping with fatigue.“Nobody saw anything unusual.A few neighbors noticed Marjory leaving in her car around noon, headed for work.That tracks with what we already knew.”
“What about security cameras?”Jenna asked.“Any of the neighbors have doorbell cams or security systems?”
“The Johannsens across the street have a doorbell camera,” Delgado replied, “but it only captures their porch and part of their front lawn.Doesn’t reach to this side of the street.And the Wilsons next door have a security system, but no exterior cameras.”
“What about the alley behind the house?”Jake asked.
“No cameras at all back there,” Baldry said.“If someone brought that mannequin in through the rear gate, they could have done it without being recorded.”
Jenna sighed.“Keep at it tomorrow.Someone must have seen something.”
