Double Vision (33 page)

“I brought CiCi and Eldred in my car, but surely one of the cops can give them a ri—oh, shit. I just remembered. We'll have to go by CiCi's place anyway. I have to pick up Oboe. So we might as well drop them off.”

Jenna was so happy just knowing Yancy wouldn't be at CiCi's tonight that not even the little wiener dog's inconvenient needs could bother her. “Sounds good to me. Besides, if we're gonna have to ride all the way home without stopping every few miles for me to touch you to make sure you're really still here and okay, we might need a chaperone.”

“If Oboe's good at one thing, it's badgering people. Get it? Badgering?” Yancy looked expectantly at her.

“Um . . .”

“You know, because dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers . . .”

Jenna swatted Yancy's rear end with her free hand. “Stick to the leg jokes, Tin Man. You're better at those.”

He leapt away from her, squeezing his butt in and arching his back to keep it away from her as if the spank had hurt more than it did. “Hey! I thought you said you never notice my leg anymore.”

She caught up to him, re-clasped his hand. “I said I
didn't
think about it, not that I
couldn't
think about it. Come on. Let's get cleared so we can pick up Toto and head back to Oz.”

•   •   •

J
enna and Yancy helped CiCi settle Eldred into CiCi's car for the drive back to Carmine Manor before they were finally alone. The assisted living home had agreed to allow Eldred to stay a few more days while CiCi arranged care for him at a more appropriate facility.

After watching them drive away, Jenna followed Yancy to the front door of CiCi's house and watched him unlock it with the key she'd left him. Between Jenna and Yancy, they'd been able to talk her into taking her father straight back to his own home rather than waiting around. It wouldn't get any easier, and Eldred had had a long day. If he got frustrated, he'd be prone to more outbursts like the ones they now knew, and the less encounters with cops that CiCi could manage in her life right now, the better off they'd all be. Plus this way they could both get some rest—Eldred where he could be watched by professionals.

The second Yancy opened the door, Oboe darted outside. Jenna, closer to the steps, gave chase as Yancy stepped inside the house to flip on the porch lights. The dog wouldn't get far. Every other time he'd made a bid for escape, it only took a few steps before he gave up, lay down, and rolled over for a tummy rub from his pursuer.

“Oboe, you ass! I could've sworn I closed him in the bedroom,” Yancy muttered.

Jenna, however, had honed in on something about the dachshund. Something looked different. His collar. Something bulky protruded from behind his neck . . .

She bent down and scooped up Oboe, kissed the top of his head, then reached for his collar. A folded piece of paper.

She handed the dog to Yancy, who was already scolding him.

“Oboe, you know, one of these days I should just
let
you go. You know? You'll run outside, and I'll just be like, ‘Peace, fucker. See you later, dude.'”

But as he yammered on behind her, his words were drowned out by the blood pounding in her ears as she read the piece of paper that had been tucked under the dog's collar. The grass under her feet seemed to tilt, her eyes twitching like she hadn't slept in weeks.

I know I haven't written the way that I should. In the coming days, I hope I can make up for it, but for now, just dropping by to let you know that even if I forget to write, I'm always with you in spirit. With your boy toy Yancy, too. Even when he's being quite naughty. Not to worry, though. We'll just let what I watched him do be our little secret . . .

For now.

Give Ayana my love.

Your favorite mother,

Claudia

Jenna stared at the words, unblinking, adrenaline pumping through her veins. Finally, she tore her gaze from the paper, her eyes darting from house to house in her view, cars, people . . .

Nothing but darkness.

“Jenna?” Yancy said from the porch. “What is it?”

Jenna's breathing caught in her throat. She couldn't swallow. Fear engulfed her.

“We have to call Victor
tonight
. We can't wait anymore. It's Claudia, Yancy,” she said, her voice sounding foreign in her own ears, like she was inside a tunnel in her own head. “Yancy . . . she knows.”

This book may be titled
Double Vision
, but just like with any book, so many different people bringing different points of view to the table were vital in this book's “birth.” But whether I have four books out or four hundred, I'm sure one of my biggest fears will always be leaving out someone extremely important. So, if you happen to be the one I've left out of these pages this time, this entitles you to this blanket but sincere thank-you for your role in this book's creation, as well as one coupon for a free small coffee between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 a.m. at participating locations while supplies last.

To the fantastic crew at Penguin Random House and Berkley: I have to start with my phenomenal original editor, Faith Black, for believing in, loving, and just plain “getting” the Jenna series. For taking it to new places and pushing for it to have a place in the world of thrillers. Thank you for knowing and understanding me as a writer so well that you could guide me to grow. For not only being the driving force behind this dream come true of mine, but also being a friend, thank you. To my outstanding current editor, Amanda Ng: Thank you for your leadership and enthusiasm in taking on
Double Vision
, full speed ahead, with grace, passion, and skill. I'm looking forward to many more words and successes with my new “partner in crime.” To my staggeringly good-looking and brilliant publicist, the unparalleled Loren Jaggers: I can't thank you enough for your (always superhuman) efforts in getting these books seen and heard about. Thank you for answering my questions, aiming for the stars, and changing at least part of my name when talking about my craziness to your colleagues at parties so that I don't have to wear a bag over my head if ever I'm in the building. Making your author adore you: nailed it! To my cover designer, Jason Gill, and the entire design team: I'm so grateful for the unique vision for my work you turned into an eye-catching concept I'm proud to have represent the book. Thank you to every person at Penguin/Berkley who had a hand in this book's development—so much goes into a book making it out into the world. Your roles came together to give my novel a place on the shelves, and for that, I am grateful. And to Leslie Gelbman, my publisher, president of Berkley: Thank you for making
Double Vision
the book a reality. I am honored and humbled to be a part of Berkley's line.

To the absolute force of nature that is my agent, Rachel Ekstrom: my advocate, my superhero, my friend. Knowing you're always in my corner, watching my back, and at the same time, taking the lead and constantly moving, shaking, and fighting for my work in every way it needs is a security that simply can't be bought or replaced. Thank you not just for loving my work as much as I do, but for championing it every step of the way, for nurturing me as an author, and for cultivating the trust and teamwork in our partnership. I'm thankful and honored to call myself your client. To Irene Goodman and everyone at IGLA, thank you for all of the hard work you do day in and day out to help books like mine become something more than a stack of printer paper held together with a rubber band. To my foreign rights agents, the elite team of Danny Baror and Heather Baror-Shapiro of Baror International, thank you for your tireless pursuits to bring my books to new countries and for such an unprecedented opportunity to reach a wider audience.

As always, thank you to others in the industry who have stood by me and helped my books make their long, winding journey that is this industry. To Pat Shaw, for digging me out of the slush pile and fighting for my honor. To Stairway Press, my first publishing family. To Matt Stine, Paul Stoffer, and 27 Sound Entertainment for keeping my Internet home spiffy.

For every book I write, I spend at least as much time on research as I do actually penning the story. “Getting it right” is important to me, so it's a good thing I'm fortunate enough to be surrounded by many intelligent people from all different walks of life, and that occasionally, they're kind enough to indulge my questions. As always, a massive thank-you to Dr. Richard Elliot for providing expert analysis of fictional crimes and your consulting services for all questions in the area of forensic psychiatry. To Doug and Margeaux, for being my phone-a-cop contacts. To Zach Broome and Todd Meador, for your contributions to Molly's number facts. To Kate Crumbley, for her help with the Triple Shooter's “serial killer name.” Thank you to Mark Ballard and Brian Woods for your expertise in art and color theory. To Amelia Garrett, for your knowledge of and experience with the tattoo industry and schooling me in the ins and outs of getting ink. To Flint Dollar and Jim Penndorf, for your ideas on music for a child prodigy.

To the Central Georgia Alzheimer's Association, specifically Karen Kinsler, Linda Thornbury, Mott Smith, and Kristie Touchton: I can't thank you all enough for doing what so many people need you to and what you did for me, which is raising awareness about Alzheimer's disease. I appreciate your role in bringing Eldred to life. He's written for you and the community of patients and caregivers you work so tirelessly to support. I hope you'll love him as much as I love all of you!

One thing I learned quickly in this profession was finding kindred spirits is important. Thank you to my Purgies, Pitizens, and Y-Nots for your support, advice, fresh eyes, and pep talks. Please never get off my lawn.

There aren't words to thank special friends who lent serious moral support to my writing process and career: Emily Rose Brunner, Nikki Vincent, and Sasha Penndorf. Thank you a million times over for giving me time and sanity to work as well as a willing ear if needed. To my theatre families who give me a place to be somewhere OTHER than work for a while, but who also are always ready to step up and support my work, too, I love you all. To Will Crews, Danielle Thuen, Meg Abney, and Brian Woods, who are always ready to jump in two-feet-first if I need help or a laugh when I'm overwhelmed—you guys are probably the reason I'm not in a padded room yet.

To Courtney: You'll never know quite how much your support really means to me. The fact that you believe in me is a support special to me in ways I can't quite describe. Maybe it's because as siblings, we tended to pit ourselves against each other. Maybe it's because I happen to know you have very selective tastes and hold said tastes to a high standard. But this year, you've supported me one hundred percent both in book writing and in a dark personal moment of my life, and it's something I will never forget. Thank you.

To Mom: Thank you for always believing in me, for being my sounding board, my cheerleader, my warm hug, my excited phone call, and my biggest fan. You will always be one of the people I'm most excited to hand over a book to read and hear what you think, because your opinion has always been so vital to me. I love you.

To Dad: I know you had a dream once that couldn't come to fruition for reasons outside your control. But you didn't let that stop you from having new goals and dreams and striving for them, and as I've grown up, I've become more and more aware that one of those new goals you decided you'd strive for was helping your daughters see
their
dreams come alive. But I'm here to tell you, they wouldn't have without you and Mom. You taught me the perseverance and passion, and you also gave me the push to go for them. I won't ever forget you did. I love you.

To Ashlee: Shit, son. What do I say here? You're the glitter that makes the darkest of my days go bright. You're the one I want to spend bright, sunny afternoons inside, sitting on the computer, with. You're the one there to tell me what I feel or think when I'm not sure where I am, because . . . how else am I gonna know? So to finish out this thank-you, a poem: The Thing shirts are red, the Things' hair is blue. Jesus holds dance parties and is awesome, and So. Are. You. (Yep. That's where your acknowledgments have gone . . .)

To the littlest members of my family: This time, I don't just want you to know when one day you read this that when I wrote it, I loved you. I want you to know that even back then, you were why. Your presences in my life put energy and hope and inspiration in my soul. Thank you both just for being who you are, because just the presence of those two sweet, amazing souls has put words into mine.

For David: I've always been ambitious and had this dream. I thought if I worked hard enough, I could persevere. And yet . . . it's no coincidence in my mind or heart that since “us,” I've started writing novels again when I'd stopped because I just didn't have the passion anymore. It's no coincidence in my mind or heart that since “us,” I've signed with a great agent, sold four books in the US and two in Germany while continuing to write others, when before, I'd practically given up. I guess it turns out that even if I've written the books and worked hard and persevered, before, there was a piece of the puzzle missing. A vital part absent, keeping things from working just enough that they wouldn't. Thank you for being my missing piece, but thank you even more for being found.

And last but certainly not least, to my readers for joining Jenna on her latest adventure: A lot of authors say that they write for themselves and that either other people will like it or they won't. For me, that is not true. I write for you, because you've trusted me with your time and energy. You've invested in me. You're the ones who love my characters as much as I do (if not more at times!), and you're the ones who deserve every bit of the story you opened this book hoping to get. So thank you all, for trusting me to entertain you. Thank you for jumping into my story and letting it take you away. I hope it has brought you much excitement, many surprises, and just enough thrill to keep your heart pounding at just the right pace. And as always, I hope it kept you reading late into the night!