Free Chasing Shadows by Terri Reed Page B

Don’t you remember?”
    Confusion entered Sadie’s eyes. “Well, now that you mention it.”
    â€œYou called me about Denise Jamesen,” Kris prompted, hating the distressing idea that Sadie’s mind was in fact fading.
    The blank look on Sadie’s face nearly brought tears to Kris’s eyes. Grams didn’t remember.
    Then Sadie’s expression cleared and her eyes widened. “Oh. Oh, my. Denise is missing. Just like…just like…” She frowned, her face a study in concentration.
    â€œCarl and Lena?”
    â€œYes!” Sadie grabbed Kris’s hand. “What’ll we do? We have to find them. Something bad has happened.”
    Relief made Kris’s head throb. Just a momentary lapse of memory, nothing more. “We’ll find them. Gabe and I are going to drive to Rhode Island to see Denise.”
    â€œYou are? Wonderful. May I come?”
    The eagerness in her expression plucked at Kris. “It’s a bit of a drive.”
    â€œYou don’t want me to come?” Hurt filled her voice.
    â€œThat’s not it at all,” Kris quickly assured her. “I don’t want to tire you out.”
    â€œNonsense, let me just get my coat.” Sadie shuffled away toward her studio apartment.
    â€œIs everything all right, my dear?” Mrs. Tipple asked as she came to stand on Kris’s right.
    â€œDid I hear Sadie say she was getting her coat? Are you taking her away?” Vivian’s concerned voice shook slightly as she moved to stand on Kris’s left.
    Kris gave each woman a reassuring smile. “We’re just going out for a drive. We’ll be back this afternoon.”
    Mrs. Tipple laid her hand on Kris’s arm. “It’s just beautiful the way you dote on your grandmother.”
    â€œThank you.” Maybe these women would know something useful. “Do either of you remember Denise Jamesen mentioning she was going to visit her relatives for the holiday?”
    The two women exchanged a glance.
    â€œShe mentioned family, but I was under the impression they were estranged,” Mrs. Tipple said.
    Vivian nodded. “That’s true, but it is Christmas. Shemay have decided it was time to mend some fences. It’s so sad to be alone at this time of the year.”
    â€œToo true,” Mrs. Tipple agreed. “At our age, one doesn’t want to leave this world with unfinished business.”
    Mrs. Tipple’s words resonated through Kris. That sounded reasonable. “Is Denise ill?”
    â€œNo,” Mrs. Tipple said then frowned. “At least I don’t remember her being ill. Though there has been a touch of the flu going around.”
    â€œFlu season.” Vivian shrugged. “You’d have to ask the doc or Ms. Faust.”
    She doubted Ms. Faust would be receptive to any more questions. “Thank you, ladies. I should make sure Grams doesn’t need help with her coat.”
    Kris found Sadie standing in the middle of the room, coat in hand, a bemused expression on her face. She stared at Kris. “I have my coat. Are we going somewhere? I do so love to have adventures.”
    Kris’s heart dropped. Had she forgotten already? “We’re driving to Rhode Island to see Denise.”
    Sadie frowned. “She’s not there. Why would she go there?”
    â€œThat’s what we’ll find out,” Kris said.
    Sadie brightened. “All right then. Let’s go, Krissy, we don’t have all day. It’s a long ride.”
    Sadie shuffled toward the door.
    â€œUh, Grams, shouldn’t you put on some shoes?”
    Sadie blinked and looked down at her fuzzy slippered feet. “Oh, my, yes. These won’t do all at.”
    Hating to see her grandmother so befuddled, Kris helped her change into a pair of sturdy-soled, leather shoes.
    At the front desk, Kris signed Sadie out of the center without any fuss. Outside, the frigid December air turned their