In Your Dreams (Blue Heron #4)(88)

“You can check the door, but, yeah, I did. I don’t want to make a big deal out of this. It’s probably just kids.” Poor “kids.” They were blamed for so much.

Levi was quiet for a minute, doodling on a pad. “Anything else happen recently?”

“Someone left a note on my windshield. It said, ‘You better watch yourself.’”

“Did you keep it?”

“No.”

“You know, Jack, it’s always frustrating when the taxpayers of Manningsport don’t turn to their friendly neighborhood cop for help. Especially when that cop happens to be a member of their family.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He paused. “The notepaper was hot pink, if that helps.”

“What would’ve really helped is if you didn’t throw it away. Anything else you’re not telling me?”

“There was another night when I came home and all the lights were on and the front door was open. I might’ve done that myself, though. I’ve been...forgetting things recently.”

“That accident was bound to cause some stress. You doing all right otherwise? Any problems sleeping or anything?”

Nice to know Emmaline hadn’t mentioned anything to her boss. For a second, he thought about telling Levi about the flashbacks and nightmares. But Levi was his brother-in-law, an expectant father, the police chief and combat veteran who probably had flashbacks of his own. Jack wasn’t going to add to his load. “No, I’m good.”

Levi stared at him. Jack stared back.

“Okay,” Levi finally said. “Sounds to me like someone’s mad at you, Jack. I’d like to talk to the Deiners.”

“Absolutely not,” Jack said. “No.”

“Jack, they—”

“Their son is in a coma. I doubt very much that they have time to pick up roadkill and sneak it into my truck.”

“Yeah. They haven’t left his side, so I doubt it, too.” Levi leaned back in his chair. “How about your ex-wife?”

The thought had crossed his mind. “The lights and the note on the windshield, maybe. But not the dead possum.”

“You sure? Nothing makes people crazier than jealousy.”

Jack paused. Hadley was a little...off; that was true. He couldn’t see her doing this, though. “Doesn’t seem like her style.”

“I might ask her some questions just the same. Be smart, Jack. If something else happens, tell me. The dead animal in your truck—that ups the stakes a bit.”

“Yeah.” There was a picture of Faith on the bookcase behind Levi. “How’s my sister?”

Levi’s expression changed from stoic police chief to goofy-in-love. “She’s great.”

“Good. Can’t wait to see my nephew.” He stood up and shook Levi’s hand. “Gotta go.”

Emmaline still wasn’t back.

Damn.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“REMEMBER, THIS PERSON IS, for the time being, your friend,” Jamie the badass instructor said. “Even if you hate what they’re doing and wish you could kick them in the sac, for now, you empathize, you listen, you mirror.” She tapped the whiteboard to emphasize the words she’d written there. “Don’t tell them that what they’re doing is crazy or stupid. Don’t deny what they’re feeling. That’s creating an argument, and you want them to feel they can trust you. Okay? Emmaline and Butch, you’re up. Em, you’re the tormented woman with your parents held at gunpoint. And...action.”

Butch cleared his throat. He and Em were sitting in chairs at the front of the class, facing away from each other while Shirley and Gale pretended to be the cowering parents.

“So what’s going on with you and your parents?” Butch asked.

“I hate them,” Em said, winking at Shirley, who was her best bud in the class.

“Well, yeah, everyone hates their parents. I hate mine, too,” Butch said.

“No, Butch,” Jamie interrupted. “This isn’t about you. It’s about Em and her shitty parents. Keep going.”

“Okay,” Butch said. “Uh...hate your parents, huh?”

“Yes,” Em said. “They love my sister best.” Might as well go for something close to home.

“Love your sister best, huh?”

“Yep.”

“Why do you think that is?” Butch asked. Em could practically hear him sweating; he wasn’t the best student in the group.

“Because she’s just better. Prettier, smarter, nicer.”

“She doesn’t hold them hostage,” Ingrid quipped.

“Keep going, Butch,” Jamie said.

“So...uh...what should I say next?”

“How about some emotional labeling?” Jamie said. “Identify her feelings so she’ll know you understand her situation.”

“Right, right. Uh, so you’re really pissed, right?”

Em tried not to smile. “Yeah, I’m pissed! That’s why I tied up my parents and have this gun!” Role-playing was fun.

To be honest, there was a lot more psychological work in this field than Em had anticipated. Mirroring, empathy, active listening, behavioral change... For the first time in her life, she understood why her parents loved their jobs so much.