Page 83 of The Deputy's Secret Double

He told his friends downstairs that he would be right back and went to Winnie’s room first. She had her door open and was sprawled out on her bed, reading a book. Price paused to take in the sight. He remembered when she was half that size, begging him to read her favorite kids’ book about learning numbers by counting sheep.

Price was about to say just that when he noticed something lying next to the book.

“Are those JJ’s earrings?” he asked instead.

Winnie jumped in surprise but recovered with a scowl on her face. She scooped the earrings up and dramatically placed them against her chest.

“They are and, before you say anything, I already promised to keep them safe. And that this isn’t the same as the pearl situation so before you say anything—”

“Keep them safe?” he interrupted. “She asked you to keep them safe?”

Winnie nodded.

“Her mom made them for her and, well, she didn’t say it, but I think her mom is gone so they mean a lot.” She held one out to him and pointed to something across its surface. “She said her mom handmade them for her, but she lost one in an accident.Thenshe found this one today. Now she’s worried in all of this going on that she might lose them again.”

Price had been about to take the one held out to him.

He paused the move midair.

“What?” was all he could manage.

Winnie saw the change in him. Her answer was slower but still she didn’t understand.

“I think she gave them to me because she’s trying to keep me distracted,” she admitted. “She didn’t really seem that stressed when we talked earlier. Maybe she thought I was.”

Price started to backtrack through the door. He stared down the hall.

JJ’s bedroom door was closed.

Adrenaline poured through him as he took each step closer to it.

He heard Winnie follow him. She whisper-yelled out.

“Don’t wake her up! She said she was going to nap.”

Price shook his head.

He already knew what he would find once he opened the door.

Or, rather, who he wouldn’t.

Still, he held out some hope.

That hope didn’t last.

Once the door was open, it was easy to see the room was empty.

Winnie bumped into him.

“What else did she say?” he asked, striding across the room to the bathroom, just in case.

It was also empty.

Winnie looked confused.

“Nothing. She said she was going to take a nap and that she was sorry.”

Price turned at that.